1. Creation and Ratification of the Constitution

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. Structure of Government
Convention agreed on creating Three Branches of Government
Executive: enforce the laws
Legislative: make the laws
Judicial: interpret the laws

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. Slavery and Population
Three-Fifths Compromise
Every 5 slaves would count as 3 free persons when calculating population for taxation and for representation

11. 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

13. 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.

14. 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.

15. 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

16. 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