1. The Constitutional Convention

2. The Constitutional Convention begins
Philadelphia
Delegates from all the states invited to a convention to improve the Articles of Confederation, which were not working
Only Rhode Island didn’t attend
55 Delegates attended

3. Leaders of the Convention
George Washington was asked to preside (lead) over the convention.
James Madison kept notes of the discussions and is often called “The Father of the Constitution.”
The men who wrote the Constitution are called the “Founding Fathers.”
All the participants in the Convention were wealthy, white, males.

4. FATHER OF THE CONSTITUTION
James Madison
FATHER OF THE CONSTITUTION

5. The Founding Fathers

6. Issues that divided the Nation’s leaders
Issue debated at the Constitutional Convention:
States Rights
Fair Representation
Slavery
The power of the federal government. Would the states or the federal government have the most power?
Representation in Congress (How many members on Congress would each state get? – small states wanted equal representation, large states wanted it to be determined by population of the states
Slavery – How would slaves be counted? Would the slave trade continue?

7. The Virginia Plan
Called for a new national government. Threw out the Articles of Confederation
Three separate branches of government. – a legislative branch, executive branch, and judicial branch
Representation in the legislative branch based on population of state
Large states liked the plan, small states didn’t.

8. New Jersey Plan Legislature - has one house. Each state gets one vote.
Small states liked the plan, the large states did NOT like it.
There would have to be a compromise.

9. The Constitutional Convention State Rights
Some delegates creating the Constitution were afraid that a powerful national government would be dangerous.
They felt that a strong national government would take power away from the states.

10. The Constitutional Convention State Rights
Delegates agreed to create a federal system of government where states would share authority with the national government.
States would have authority over their own affairs:
Schools
Local elections
The national government would take care of things that would affect the whole country:
Printing money
Forming military

11. The Constitutional Convention Fair Representation
Delegates from small states worried that they would not be fairly represented in Congress.
Delegates from large states felt that they deserved more votes because they had more people.

12. The Constitutional Convention Fair Representation
Delegates decided to on a compromise known as The Great Compromise.
The congress would be split into two houses.
Each state would have equal representation in one house called the Senate.
Each sate would be represented according to population in the other house called the House of Representatives.

13. The Great Compromise (Connecticut Plan)
Legislature would have two houses (parts): House of Representatives and a Senate
House - based on the population of state
Senate - two senators per each state

14. The Constitutional Convention Slavery
Many delegates were against slavery.
However, some delegates from the south owned slaves.
They felt that the slaves should be counted as part of the population even though they had no rights.

15. The Constitutional Convention Slavery
A compromise was reached to please everyone called the three-fifths compromise.
It was decided that representation in the Congress would be based on the free population added to three-fifths of the slave population.
The issue of slavery nearly broke up the convention.

16. Slavery
The Southern states refused to approve the Constitution unless slavery continued.
It was a terrible compromise to make, but the Northern states had no choice if they wanted a Constitution.
3/5 Compromise
Made each slave worth 3/5 of a vote in deciding numbers in House of Representatives

17. Constitution Signed
On September 17, 1787, 39 delegates sign the U.S. Constitution.
It had been done in secret and was a new written document.
Only white property owning males would have a say in the ratification of the Constitution.