1. The Constitutional Convention
Independence Hall
Philadelphia, PA
1787

2. Who?
55 delegates arrived, with each state except Rhode Island represented
George Washington, James Madison, Benjamin Franklin were among the delegates
Thomas Jefferson and John Adams were not present

3. Who? George Washington was picked to preside over the convention
James Madison’s ideas would prove the most influential; he is known as the “Father of the Constitution”

4. Where?
Pennsylvania State House in Philadelphia (now called Independence Hall)
Same location as the drafting of the Declaration of Independence and the AoC

5. Where?
Summer heat! …and the windows were closed because delegates agreed to keep the proceedings secret

6. Independence Hall and Philadelphia’s modern skyline
Where?
Delegates were sent to amend the Articles of Confederation
But the problems with the AoC convinced the delegates that an entirely new constitution was needed
Independence Hall and Philadelphia’s modern skyline

7. Overview

8. The Constitution 3 branches Checks & balances
Majority rule, minority rights
Federalism = strong central gov’t w/ powers reserved for states
Article I – legislative
Article II – executive
Article III – judicial
Article IV – states
Article V – amendment process
Article VI – national supremacy
Article VII – ratification
Amendments… starting with Bill of Rights

9. Compromises

10. Constitutional Compromises
The Great Compromise
Constitutional Compromises

11. James Madison Virginia Plan
The Great Compromise
vs.
James Madison Virginia Plan
William Paterson
New Jersey Plan

12. Roger Sherman of Connecticut
The Great Compromise
The Solution:
Bicameral (two-house) legislature
House of Representatives with proportional representation
Senate with equal representation (2 per state, chosen by state legislatures until passage of 17th Amendment)
Sometimes called the Connecticut Compromise
Roger Sherman of Connecticut

13. Constitutional Compromises
The Great Compromise
Constitutional Compromises
Three Fifths Compromise

14. Three-Fifths Compromise
vs.
Slave States of the South
(Mostly) Free States of the North

15. Three-Fifths Compromise
The Solution:
For purposes of representation, every five slaves would count as three “people” in the census 5
equals 3

16. Constitutional Compromises
The Great Compromise
Constitutional Compromises
Electoral College
Three Fifths Compromise

17. How should the president be chosen?
Electoral College
How should the president be chosen?
Direct Election by the People
Chosen by Congress
vs.

18. George Washington, our first President
Electoral College
The Solution:
Indirect election –voters cast ballots for president…
The candidate who wins a majority in each state takes all the state’s electoral votes
George Washington, our first President

19. Constitutional Compromises
Trade Compromise
The Great Compromise
Constitutional Compromises
Electoral College
Three Fifths Compromise

20. vs. Trade Compromise North - South -
wanted government to have power to regulate trade
South -
Feared interference with slave trade, taxes on exports

21. The importation of slaves continued until 1808
Trade Compromise
The Solution:
Congress gets power to regulate trade
Congress cannot tax exports; Congress cannot regulate/ban the slave trade for 20 years
The importation of slaves continued until 1808

22. Constitutional Compromises
Trade Compromise
The Great Compromise
Constitutional Compromises
Electoral College
Three Fifths Compromise

23. Ratification

24. The Finished Constitution
On Sept. 17, 1787 all but three delegates signed the final draft of the Constitution

25. Ratification Debate
Federalists
vs.
Anti-Federalists

27. Bill of Rights
Added to appease critics of the Constitution (anti-Federalists)