1. The Constitutional Convention
Building a New Nation
The Constitutional Convention

2. Class Objectives
Identify the key leaders at the Constitutional Convention
Summarize the key issues and their resolution at the Constitutional Convention
Compare the Virginia and New Jersey Plans
Explain the Great Compromise
Define the 3/5th Compromise
Explain the compromise on commerce & the slave trade
Describe the form of government established by the Constitution
Describe the debate over ratification of the Constitution, and the views of the opposing sides.
Explain the purpose of the Bill of Rights, and identify the documents that informed it.

3. Constitutional Convention
During the Constitutional Era, the Founding Fathers made two attempts to establish a workable government based on republican principles
The failure of the Articles of Confederation led to a new Constitutional Convention
During the fall of 1787 Congressman convened in Philadelphia to address the issues of the Articles of Confederation . They ultimately created a new form of government.
Do you think it was easy?????

4. Activity Film Clip – The Constitutional Convention, 1787
Note the roles of key leaders at the Convention:
George Washington:
President (chairman) of the Convention
Quiet but very respected; kept tempers cool
James Madison: “The Father of the Constitution”
Author of the Virginia Plan (three branches of govt)
Kept detailed notes! Brilliant!
Would later author the Bill of Rights
Constitutional Compromises
Handouts A, B, C – what do you think?
What actually happened?

5. Constitutional Convention – Conflicts and Compromises
Great Compromise
How should states be represented in the govt?
Virginia Plan:
3 separate branches: Exec,Leg,Judicial
Bicameral (2 houses) legislature, House of Representatives & Senate
Representation based on population size in both houses
More people  more reps
Big states liked this!
New Jersey Plan:
3 separate branches: Exec,Leg,Judicial
Unicameral (1 house) legislature, House of Representatives only
Equal representation for all states, like in the Articles of Con.
One state  one vote
Small states liked this!
Bicameral legislature with 2 houses: House of Representatives & Senate
Representation based on pop. in House of Reps
Equal representation in Senate (each State gets two Senators)
Also called Connecticut Compromise
Northern States:
Slaves should NOT be counted for representation, but they SHOULD be counted for taxation.
This position was best for the non-slavery states (mostly northern and smaller).
Southern States:
Slaves SHOULD be counted for representation, but they should NOT be counted for taxation.
This position was best for the slave-holding states (mostly southern with large #’s of slaves).
Three-Fifths (3/5th) Compromise
How should population be counted for representation and taxation?
Count some of the slaves. For every 5 slaves, 3 would be counted for population and taxation.
Northern States
Wanted government to regulate business, to help northern industry
Some northerners wanted the govt to end the slave trade, but all wanted to protect their own property rights
Most northerners did not want to have to return escaped slaves to owners
Slave Trade & Commerce Compromise
Should the govt regulate business, including the slave trade?
Southern States:
Did not want government to regulate business, because it would not help southern agriculture
Were afraid that government would end the slave trade
Felt that northerners must return escaped slaves (property) to owners
Govt COULD regulate business, but promised not to end the slave trade for 20 years.
Escaped slaves would be returned to owners.

6. Basic Principles of the Constitution
Federal Govt is the Supreme Law of the Land, but States have a lot of power to govern themselves
Popular Sovereignty (Rule by the people)
Power comes from the people’s consent
Limited Government
Limited the powers of the Government to those powers in the Constitution

7. Basic Principles of the Constitution
Separation of Powers
Three branches of government
Legislative: Congress (makes the law)
Senate and House of Representatives
Executive: President (enforces the law)
Judicial: Supreme Court (interprets the law)
Checks and Balances
Each branch has some control over the others
No branch can get too powerful

9. Basic Principles of the Constitution
Judicial Review
The courts (judicial branch) can declare laws unconstitutional
This was added a few years later; not in the Constitution!
Federalism
Power is shared between the national government and the states

10. Federalism
National Govt
State Govts

12. Check for Understanding
What was the location of the Constitutional Convention?
Who presided over the convention as chairman…why was he chosen?
What were the main issues discussed at the convention?
What did Great Compromise do?
What are the basic principles of the Constitution?

14. The Ratification Debate
Ratify = Approve
Read the article Ratification of the Constitution and answer the questions.

15. Ratification
Before the Constitution can be put into practice, it must be ratified, or approved by the states.
Each state sets up a convention to approve or reject the Constitution
Nine states must accept the Constitution for it to be ratified
Debate over Constitution -- (Federalists and Anti-federalists) – What were their arguments?

16. FEDERALISTS ANTI-FEDERALISTS FOR Ratification:
Strong central government was good for solving national issues:
Order and national security
Economic development
Commerce between states
Did NOT need a Bill of Rights, b/c the Constitution already protected citizens.
Separation of powers, checks & balances, and federalism protected states and citizens from a govt that was toopowerful
Major Federalists:
Alexander Hamilton*, James Madison*, John Jay*, George Washington
*wrote Federalist Papers to support ratification
AGAINST Ratification:
Feared that a strong central government would take away rights of citizens and states, and would favor the rich and powerful
WANTED a Bill of Rights to protect individuals from power of govt. Refused to ratify w/o it (NY & VA)
Major Anti-Federalists*:
Patrick Henry, George Mason
* James Madison eventually agreed with them, and wrote the Bill of Rights!

17. The Bill of Rights
After the Federalists promise to add a Bill of Rights, states begin to ratify the Constitution. (Delaware is 1st)
Bill of Rights is written by James Madison (a Federalist)
Heavily influenced by two Virginia documents:
The Virginia Declaration of Rights (1776) by George Mason
The Virginia Statute of Religious Freedom (1786) by Thomas Jefferson

18. Activity
Review
The VA Declaration of Rights and the VA Statute of Religious Freedom
The Bill of Rights
How did these two documents influence the Bill of Rights and other founding principles of the United States?