1. Creating and Ratifying the Constitution

2. I. Constitutional Convention A. Why was it held? 1. To change the Articles of Confederation 2. An entirely new U.S. Constitution would be created! B. Left Out 1. Women 2. Native Americans 3. African Americans

3. II. Compromise A. States Disagree 1. How should states be represented? 2. What about the economy (taxes)? 3. Should slavery continue? 4. How strong should the National Gov’t be? B. Virginia Plan 1. Power given to national gov’t 2. Two house legislature (Bicameral Congress) 3. Representation based on population 4. Smaller states disliked

4. II. Compromise (cont.) C. New Jersey Plan 1. More power to state governments 2. One house legislature (unicameral) 3. Each state had equal representation 4. National Gov’t could tax and regulate commerce D. The Great Compromise 1. Bicameral (2 house) representation 2. Each state would have 2 reps in the Senate 3. The House of Representatives would be based on population 4. Created a strong national government Complete chart on the Great Compromise

5. III. Slavery A. South 1. Wanted slaves to count as part of population 2. Give them more representation (more power) B. North 1. Wanted slaves to count for tax purposes 2. Did not want slaves to count as representation C. Three-Fifths Compromise 1. 3/5 of slave population would count towards representation 2. Slaves could be imported until 1807 3. The words “slave” and “slavery” never used in the Constitution

6. IV. The Living Constitution A. Federalist Government 1. Sharing of power between the central government and its states 2. All powers not assigned to national gov’t were given to the states B. Checks and Balances 1. Keeps one branch of gov’t from becoming too powerful 2. Legislative - Congress 3. Executive - President 4. Judicial - Supreme Court

7. V. Ratifying the Constitution A. Antifederalists 1. Opposed the Constitution 2. Thought too much power was given to the national government 3. Worried that there was no section that guaranteed individual rights 4. Most were small farmers and debtors a) George Mason b) Samuel Adams c) Patrick Henry

8. V. Ratifying the Constitution (cont.) B. Federalists 1. Supported the Constitution 2. Had to convince people that the central gov’t would NOT be too powerful 3. Published a series of letters in support of the Constitution 4. Most were wealthy farmers and lawyers a) James Madison b) George Washington c) Ben Franklin

9. V. Ratifying the Constitution (cont.) C. Bill of Rights 1. Several states only ratified after being guaranteed a bill of rights section 2. These rights would be added to the constitution as amendments 3. 2/3 of both houses had to approve, then 3/4 of the states had to ratify 4. 12 were originally proposed (1789) but ten were then ratified by the states (1791)