The Constitutional Convention A Few Problems to Sort Out

Background A convention was called from May 25 to September 17, 1787 to fix the failing Articles of Confederation. Located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Delegates from 12 states attended most of the meetings (Rhode Island did not attend) Debates closed to the public

Who’s Who at the Convention? Alexander Hamilton Delegate from New York A Strict Federalist George Washington Unanimously elected president of the convention

James Madison Roger Sherman Benjamin Franklin Delegate from Virginia Considered the ‘father of the constitution’ because of all the notes he kept Roger Sherman Delegate from Connecticut Helped to develop the ‘Great Compromise’ Benjamin Franklin Delegate from Pennsylvania Famous diplomat (travelled to foreign countries)

Issues facing the Convention How should people be represented in government? What should Congress look like? What should people do about slavery?

Key Conflicts of the Constitutional Convention Strong Central Gov’t Strong State Gov’t Authority comes from the people Federal government has more power than the states Authority comes from the states States remain stronger than the federal government Large States Small States Congress should have 2 houses – BICAMERAL LEGISLATURE Representation is based on population of a state in both houses Congress should have 1 house- UNICAMERAL LEGISLATURE Each state has one vote in Congress regardless of size or population North South Slaves should NOT count towards a state’s population Slaves should be taxed Slave trade should be limited or stopped altogether Congress should pass TARIFFS and taxes to protect business Slaves SHOULD count towards a state’s population Slaves should NOT be taxed Slave trade should not be regulated by the national government Congress should NOT pass TARIFFS

Representation The Virginia Plan Proposed by Edmund Randolph Wanted a bicameral Congress States would gain reps based on the population Wanted for a national government that consisted of three branches with supreme power Legislative, executive, judicial Supported by larger states of the south

Representation The New Jersey Plan One house Congress (unicameral) All states have an equal vote (similar to the Articles of Confederation) States were thought of as independent Support by the smaller states

The Great Compromise Suggested by Roger Sherman Decided on a bicameral legislation (Congress) The House of Representatives Based on state’s population (435 members today) Senate Represented by an equal number from each state (100 members today)

Should slaves count in the population? The south wanted to count slaves as part of their population while northern states did not want this. Why?

The Three-Fifths (3/5) Compromise For every five slaves, the state would receive a count of three people towards their representatives Created by James Wilson and Roger Sherman

…But What About Trade? Southern states wanted the states to have control over the regulation of trade Feared a national ban on the slave trade Feared a duty (tax) on agricultural exports Northern States wanted the national government to regulate trade Wanted the national government to be able to collect tariffs and duties

Another Problem!? Nearly every state agreed that there was a need for strong central figures, such as a president. However, the issue of how to elect the new president, and about how that office should be served arose.

Southern States Wanted the state legislations to elect the president Wanted the president to serve a short term Wanted a limit on the number of terms a president could serve

Northern States Wanted the direct election of the president by qualified voters Wanted a longer term for the president Did not want any limits on the number of terms a president could serve

Presidential Compromise Indirect election of the president by the Electoral College 4 year term No limit on the number of terms* * A two limit term was added by the 22nd amendment in 1951

Ratification In order to make the constitution official, 9 of the 13 states had to approve Special elections were held delegates were chosen by voters for a state convention Those delegates would vote to approve or reject the constitution. Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists…