1. Creating the Constitution

2. Political Dictionary Framers Virginia Plan New Jersey Plan
Connecticut Compromise
Three fifths Compromise
Commerce and Slave Trade Compromise

3. The Framers
Framers are the group of delegates who attended the Constitutional Convention
55 Delegates met
“Never before or since, has so remarkable a group of men been brought together in this country.” Thomas Jefferson

4. Framers Many had fought in the Revolutionary War
39 members of Continental Congress
Eight had signed the Declaration of Independence.
31 had attended college

5. Framers 2 would become President and 1 Vice-President
17 would serve in the Senate
11 would serve in the House of Representatives

6. Framers Average age was 42 Half were in there 30’s
Ben Franklin oldest at 81
George Washington was 55

7. Organization and Procedure
Met in the same room in which the Declaration of Independence had been signed.

8. Organization and Procedure
Rules of procedure
Majority of the states needed to conduct business
Each state delegation had one vote on all matters
majority of the votes would carry the proposal

9. Organization and Procedure
Worked in secrecy
James Madison became the floor leader
Madison contributed the most
Also kept records of the meeting
Called the “Father of the Constitution”

10. Organization and Procedure
Framers met for 89 out of 116 days
Full body settled all questions

11. Organization and Procedure
May 30 adopted proposal:
Edmund Randolph from Virginia
Supreme Legislative, Executive and Judiciary
New Constitution

12. Virginia Plan Offered the first plan for new Constitution.
Work of James Madison and Edmund Rudolph
Called for a new government
Three separate branches
Legislature would be bicameral
Representation in each housed based on
States population
Amount of money it gave to central government

13. Virginia Plan Lower house were popularly elected.
Senate (upper house) were chosen by the house from list of persons nominated by state legislatures.
Congress was given all powers under Articles plus:
Veto state law in conflict with national law
Use force to gain compliance

14. Virginia Plan
Congress would choose a “National Executive” and a “National Judiciary”
These two branches called the “Council of Revision”
Could veto congress
Veto could be overridden by the two houses.
Congress could admit new states to the union

15. Virginia Plan Create a new Constitution by revising the Articles
Create a truly national government with greatly expanded powers
Ability to enforce those powers
Smaller states did not like it

16. The New Jersey Plan James Patterson Retained unicameral Congress
Each state equally represented
Added powers to tax and regulate trade between states.
Federal executive of more than one person

17. New Jersey Plan Chosen by Congress
Could be removed by a majority of the states governors.
Federal judiciary, ”supreme tribunal” appointed by the executive

18. Reaching a Compromise Major disagreement
How would states be represented?
What would be the basis for population or financial contribution.
Based on States equality like the Articles or NJ plan

19. Reaching a Compromise Disagreement over representation was critical.
Large states wanted to dominate the new government.
Small states feared they would not be able to protect their interests.

20. The Connecticut Compromise
Roger Sherman
Settled the conflict
Congress composed of two houses.
Senate states would be represented equally.
House based on population.
Was called the “Great Compromise”

21. The Three-Fifths Compromise
How should slaves be counted in the south?
South thought they should be counted
North thought they should not.
Free persons were counted and “Three fifths of all other persons”
Money due to Congress based on population.
South had to count slaves so they paid more.

23. The Commerce and Slave Trade Compromise
Congress could regulate foreign and interstate trade.
South afraid Congress would tax their exports
Commerce and Slave Trade Compromise
Congress was forbidden to tax export goods from any state
Forbidden to act on the slave trade for 20 years.
Could not interfere with the migration or importation of such persons as any state now existing

24. Bundle of Compromises What the Constitution has been called
Selection of President
Treaty making
Structure of national court system
Amendment process
Need for new National Government
Popular sovereignty
Limited government
Separation of powers
Checks and balances

25. Sources of the Constitution
Governments of ancient Greece and Rome, Great Britain and Europe.
Political writings of the time
Blackstone, Rouesseau, John Locke
Second Continental Congress
Articles of Confederation
State governments

26. Sources of the Constitution

27. Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679) Developed the idea of a Social Contract
Thought people to selfish to govern themselves
Needed protection of a strong ruler
“All mankind has a perpetual and restless desire for power…that ceases only in death

28. John Locke ( )
Locke believed people formed governments to protect their rights , not to save them from themselves
“The purpose of law is not to abolish or restrain,” he wrote, “but to preserve and enlarge freedom.”

29. Baron de Montesquieu (1689-1755)
Believed democracy was the best form of government
Power must be divided among different groups
“When the lawmaking and law enforcement are united in the same person,” he wrote, “there can be no liberty

30. Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778)
Believed that people were naturally good
Corrupted by society
“Man is born free but everywhere in chains”
Government had a duty to secure freedom for the people

31. Jean-Jacques Rousseau
If the government did not, they do not have the right to exist
“Force do not create right ,” he wrote, “Obedience is due only to legitimate powers.”