1. Chapter 3: The Constitution
Lesson 2: Creating a New Constitution

2. The Constitutional Convention
In the Spring of 1787, delegates from the states met in Philadelphia to fix the Articles of Confederation
Rhode Island was the only state which did not attend because they opposed a strong central government
The convention took place at Independence Hall and began on May 25th, 1787

3. The Delegates 55 men were present at the Constitutional Convention
8 signed the Declaration of Independence
7 were state governors
41 were members of the Continental Congress
Benjamin Franklin
George Washington – 1st president
James Madison – 4th president

4. The First Decisions
George Washington was chosen to guide the convention.
He was very orderly and stressed the importance of coming up with an acceptable plan of government
Key Decisions
Each state would have one vote
Implemented a simple majority
All meetings would be private
Today very few written records
Only James Madison kept a notebook, which was later published

5. Constitutional Convention
The original job of the convention was to revise the Articles of Confederation
Soon after the delegates realized they would need to start over with a new constitutional, which had a plan for a strong central government.
Constitutional Convention: meeting of state delegates in leading to adoption of a new Constitution

6. Compromising for a Constitution
Virginia Plan by James Madison
Federal Government had a president, courts, and a congress with 2 houses
The state’s population would determine how many representative each state would send for Congress
Large population states loved this idea because they would have more delegates

7. Compromising for a Constitution
New Jersey Plan by William Paterson
1 House Congress
Each state would have 1 vote
Congress could set taxes and regulate trade
Instead of a strong president, a less powerful committee named by Congress would carry out laws
Small States like this plan

8. Compromising for a Constitution
The Great Compromise
2 Houses: Senate and House of Representatives
Senate: each state would have 2 members
House of Representatives: numbers of representatives from each state would be based on population

9. Compromising for a Constitution
The Three-Fifths Compromise
The question on the table was slaves and how should they be counted
Northern delegates argued that enslaved persons were legally property, so they should not be counted in the population
Southern delegates argued that enslaved persons should still be counted in the states population since women and children were also counted
The Three-Fifths Compromise: agreement providing that enslaved persons would count as 3/5th of other persons in determining representation in Congress
Every 5 slaves will be counted as 3 people when determining representation

10. Other Compromises Congress could not ban the slave trade before 1808
Congress could regulate trade between the states and other countries
Congress could not tax exports
Electoral College: a group of people named by each state legislature to select the president and vice president

11. Federalists and Anti-Federalists
Federalists: a supporter of the Constitution
Believed in Federalism
Federalism: a form of government in which power is divided between the federal, or national, government and the state
Believed federal laws should be supreme over state laws
James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay wrote the Federalist Papers
The Federalist Papers: a series of essays written to defend the Constitution

12. Anti-Federalists
Anti-Federalists: a person who opposed ratification of the Constitution
Argued that the new constitution would destroy the liberties won in the American Revolution
Would create too strong of a national government
Lacked a Bill of Rights

13. Launching a New Nation
Both Federalists and Anti- Federalists agreed that a Bill of Rights was needed and would be added
In June of 1788 the Constitution officially took affect!