1. Ch. 8.2: Creating the Constitution

2. Call for a Convention:
Sept delegates from 5 states met in Annapolis, Maryland to discuss ways to promote interstate trade.
They believed that creating national trade laws would help economy, but required amending the Articles.
Congress did not have power to regulate trade among the states.

3. Constitutional Convention
55 delegates (all white males) become known as “Founding Fathers”
May 25, Convention opens
Washington selected as President of Convention
Kept discussions a secret
James Madison kept record of the drama and details.

4. Constitutional Convention:
Goal of Constitutional Convention was to fix Articles of Confederation.

5. Constitutional Convention:
Almost immediately delegates decide to create new govt. instead

6. Constitutional Convention:
tried to obtain balance in the Constitution between rights of the individual and the power of the government

7. The Virginia Plan 3 branches:
Legislative (Made laws)
Executive (Enforced laws)
Judiciary (Interpreted laws)
2 Houses/ representatives from each state was based on population and wealth
Upper house and Lower House

8. Supporters of Virginia Plan:
large states
greater representation in legislature than small states

9. The New Jersey Plan: 3 branches of government
legislative branch with only 1 house
Each state would have 1 representative in legislature no matter its size, population, or wealth

10. Support for the New Jersey Plan:
Smaller states
felt the Virginia Plan was unfair to them
wanted equal votes

11. The Great Compromise Created 2 houses, known as Congress:
Senate: same number of representatives from each state
House of Representatives: representatives based on state population

13. The 3/5th Compromise Most slaves lived in Southern states
South wanted slaves counted toward population for representation in House of Representatives but not for tax issues
Northerners wanted slaves counted for taxes-not representation
3/5ths Compromise stated 3/5ths of slave population counted when setting tax rates and for representation in H.O.R.

14. Constitution
Constitution signed on Sept. 17, 1787 and sent to states to approve
3 of the 42 present did not sign- George Mason, Edmund Randolph, and Elbridge Gerry