Creation and Ratification of the Constitution
The Convention Convenes Meets in Philadelphia in the Pennsylvania State House, now called Independence Hall Intended to revise Articles of Confederation Instead decided to scrap the Articles and start over 75% of the men had been in the Continental Congress 55 delegates in all attend Meet in secrecy
The Convention Convenes George Washington elected President of the Convention James Madison (VA) kept notes and does much of the writing of the Constitution “Father of the Constitution” 81-year-old Ben Franklin (PA) attends Thomas Jefferson and John Adams are notable absences from the conventions Both are Europe representing the country as ambassadors Jefferson is in France Adams is in England
Major Issues Addressed Government strong enough to protect rights of the people but not too strong to be controlled Structure of Government Congressional Representation Slavery and population Regulation of Trade
Structure of Government Convention agreed on creating Three Branches of Government Executive: enforce the laws Legislative: make the laws Judicial: interpret the laws
Structure of Government Two Plans Virginia Plan Bicameral Legislature Number of representatives in each house would be based on states population and/or wealth Legislature would have power to tax, regulate trade and make laws that states are unable to make
Structure of Government Two Plans New Jersey Plan Single house Legislature Each state would have one vote Similar to Articles of Confederation Legislature would have power to tax, regulate trade and make laws that states are unable to make
Constitutional Compromise Great Compromise Compromise between the Virginia and New Jersey plans for representation 3 Branches of Government Executive, Legislative and Judicial Legislature would be Bicameral Senate – 2 representatives per state House of Representatives – representation based on population
Slavery and Population Disagreement on how to count slaves as part of population for the purpose of taxation and representation South wanted slaves counted as population for representation but not taxation North wanted slaves counted for taxation but not population
Slavery and Population Three-Fifths Compromise Every 5 slaves would count as 3 free persons when calculating population for taxation and for representation
Signing of the Constitution September 17, 1787 Sent to states for ratification Had to have ¾ of states approval to become law of the land
Approving the Constitution Article VII - Ratification The Ratification of the Conventions of nine States, shall be sufficient for the Establishment of this Constitution between the States so ratifying the Same.
Words we need to understand Ratification – the act of giving formal approval or consent to When we talk about ratification it implies that the issue requires a vote for approval Convention – a meeting or formal assembly, as of representatives or delegates, for discussion of and action on particular matters of common concern.
Ratification in 1787 & early 1788 Ratification of the Constitution -- dates, states and votes -- Date State Votes Yes No 1 December 7, 1787 Delaware 30 2 December 11, 1787 Pennsylvania 46 23 3 December 18, 1787 New Jersey 38 4 January 2, 1788 Georgia 26 5 January 9, 1788 Connecticut 128 40 6 February 6, 1788 Massachusetts 187 168 7 April 26, 1788 Maryland 63 11 8 May 23, 1788 South Carolina 149 73
Ratification of the Constitution -- dates, states and votes -- Ratification in 1788 & 1789 Ratification of the Constitution -- dates, states and votes -- Date State Votes Yes No 9 June 21, 1788 New Hampshire 57 47 10 June 25, 1788 Virginia 89 79 11 July 26, 1788 New York 30 27 George Washington becomes the nation’s 1st president April 30, 1789 12 November 21, 1789 North Carolina 194 77 13 May 29, 1790 Rhode Island 34 32