1. UNIT II: REVOLUTIONARY ERA 2.3 THE CONSTITUTION
#4 “The genius of the Constitution is found in the series of compromises which made it acceptable to so many.” Assess the validity of this statement with respect to:
Representation
Presidency
Slavery
Commerce

2. THE CONSTITUTION I. The Constitutional Convention A. The Delegates
1. Who was there? (“demi- gods”)
2. Who wasn’t there? (Where’s Jefferson, John Adams, Sam Adams, Patrick Henry, and John Hancock?)
3. Secrecy Rule
George Washington
James Madison
“Father of the Constitution
Benjamin Franklin
Alexander Hamilton

3. THE CONSTITUTION II. The Constitutional Convention B. The Issues
1. Representation
Virginia Plan, “Large State Plan”
3 Branches
2 Houses in Legislative Branch
Representation based on Population in lower house, which then vote for members in upper house
James Madison
Presented by Randolph

4. THE CONSTITUTION II. The Constitutional Convention B. The Issues
1. Representation
New Jersey Plan, “Small State Plan”
3 Branches
1 House in Legislative Branch
Each State have 1 Vote
William Patterson

5. THE CONSTITUTION II. The Constitutional Convention B. The Issues
1. Representation
Great Compromise, (Connecticut Plan)
3 Branches
2 Houses in Legislative Branch
House of Representatives = Based on Population
Senate = Each State have 2
Roger Sherman

6. THE CONSTITUTION II. The Constitutional Convention B. The Issues
2. Slavery
Opposing Views
Northern View
counted for taxation, not representation
Southern view
count as person for representation, but as property if taxation based on # of people
Compromises
3/5ths Compromise
each slave counted as 3/5ths of a person for both representation and taxation
Slave Trade
Allow importation of slaves for 20 years, then Congress allowed to outlaw trade

7. THE CONSTITUTION II. The Constitutional Convention B. The Issues
3. Election of the President
Opposing Views
Congress pick
people object & have no say
People pick
fear too much democracy lead to “mobocracy”, mob rule
Compromise
Electoral College
Each state assigned electors
# electors based on how many representatives and senators a state has

8. THE CONSTITUTION II. The Constitutional Convention B. The Issues
4. Trade
Opposing Views
North
Government regulate interstate commerce & foreign trade
South
afraid of export taxes on agricultural products
Compromise
Commercial Compromise
Congress regulates interstate & foreign commerce, including tariffs on imports
prohibited from placing taxes on exports

9. THE CONSTITUTION
III. Checks and Balances

10. THE CONSTITUTION IV. Ratifying the Constitution
Federalists v. Anti-Federalists
James Madison
Alexander Hamilton
John Jay

11. THE CONSTITUTION
IV. Ratifying the Constitution