1. Review from Last Class
Strengths & Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation

2. Constitutional Convention
Guys, we can’t keep this crappy Articles of Confederation!

3. Vocabulary Constitution (n)
The new set of rules that govern (run) the US government, replaces the Articles of Confederation
Convention (n): meeting, similar to a congress
Delegate (n): a representative sent from a place
Compromise (n): when two people or groups decide to agree on something
Federal (adj): national
State (n): a former colony, its new name in America
Houses (in a legislature): smaller groups of delegates that meet together to make laws
Supremacy (n): meaning that you are the most important/powerful
Clause (n): a line or sentence in a document

4. May 1787
Delegates (or representatives) go to Philadelphia to meet about creating a new type of government to replace the Articles of Confederation
Chose George Washington to be the president of the convention (meeting)

5. Part of the Constitution
Part 1: Preamble
This is like an introduction to a document where the goals of the government are written
Part 2: Articles
Remember from last class?
These are individual sections of a document that are about something specific
Part 3: Amendments
These are changes or parts that get added when the USA thinks the Constitution should change

6. Issue #1 Small States v. Big States
Small States want to have the same number of votes as big states
Big states have more people and think they should have more votes

7. New Jersey Plan Side 1: Small States
New Jersey Plan: small states like this idea because it would create one house in the Legislative Branch (who make the laws) and each state would get an equal number of representatives
Each state would have the same number of Representatives or votes
Based on Equality

8. # of Congressmen determined by state population
Virginia Plan: large states like this plan because it would create 2 houses in the Legislative branch based on population: or how many people lived in a particular state.
Based on Population
Elected by the 1st house
Elected by the people
# of Congressmen determined by state population

9. The Great Compromise
Compromise: The Great Compromise This created two houses: The House of Representatives was based on the number of people living in each state. The Senate gave the same number of representatives to each state (2 each).
Senate
House of Representatives
Each state gets 2 representatives
# of reps. would depend on populations

10. Issue #2: Slavery What each side wanted:
Side 1: Southern States wanted slaves to be counted in their population to get more representative in the House of Representatives
Side 2: Northern States wanted only free people to be counted in the Southern state’s population so that they would have less representatives in the House of Representatives

11. 3/5 Compromise
They decided to count 3/5 of the total number of slaves as population.
5 blacks = 3 whites.
Slaves still could not vote

12. Issue #3 What each side wanted:
Side 1: Delegates called Federalists wanted a strong central government after seeing the Articles of Confederation not work out. They thought that the federal government needed to be strong in order to keep the country running smoothly.
Side 2: Delegates called Anti-Federalists wanted a weak central government. They were scared of a strong central government because of their bad history with England who had a strong executive called a king and legislature called Parliament. They thought the state governments should have the most power because they knew their people the best.

13. Separation of Powers
3 branches of the federal government would split up power between the executive, legislative, and judicial part of government. This would make the anti-Federalists happy because it would stop the federal government from becoming too powerful like a king.

14. Separation of Powers ( How the Government will be organized )
3 Branches
Executive
Judicial
Legislative
President
Court System
House of Reps.
Senate =
Make sure laws are followed
Interpret or explain the laws
Congress Makes Laws

16. Supremacy Clause: this makes the Constitution the biggest, baddest, most powerful law in the country and the federal government’s laws can always beat the states. Anti-federalists hate this and don’t want to sign it but the Federalist like it.
The Bill of Rights. This is a special section of the Constitution that protects the rights of regular people so the federal government doesn’t get too powerful.

17. National (Federal) v. State Powers

18. Amendments
Before any of the states would sign the Constitution, the delegates wanted a way to amend the Constitution in order for it to grow with the times and the country.
Bill of Rights
1st Amendment
2nd Amendment
3rd Amendment

19. Signing the Constitution
39 delegates signed
before leaving
Philadelphia. Each
state planned to have
its own convention to
vote on the adoption.
Nine states were needed to ratify.
December 7, 1787

20. Federalists vs. Anti Federalists
... Let the Battle Begin...
Federalists: Supporters of the New Constitution
George Washington
Ben Franklin
James Madison
Alexander Hamilton
John Jay
Anti Federalists: Opposed ratification of the new Constitution
1. Would take away liberties
2. Create a strong central government
3. Ignore the will of the people
4. Favor the wealthy
**Wanted the gov. close to the people
Thomas Paine
Patrick Henry

22. Ratification Go USA!! June 21, 1788
New Hampshire, the 9th state signed the constitution putting into effect the new government.
There were still states that had not ratified. This threatened the outcome of the new Gov.
The four remaining states signed by May of 1790!
Go USA!!

23. George Washington was elected the first President of the U.S.
John Adams was elected the first Vice President of the U.S.

24. George Washington

25. The End