1. The Constitutional Convention Creating the Constitution Chapter Eight, Section Two US History

2. Changes to the Articles  In 1786, a meeting was called to discuss trade between the states.  Many thought the nations problems could be solved by strengthening the national government.  Delegates from five states met in Annapolis, MD to discuss ways to promote trade between the states.  Making changes regarding trade would require amending the Articles of Confederation, since under the articles granted no authority to regulate trade among to states.  Alexander Hamilton called the states to send representatives to Philadelphia, PA to discuss changes.

3. The Constitutional Convention  Summer of 1787  55 delegates met in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania  Attended by George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, James Madison.  Thomas Jefferson and John Adams did not attend serving as diplomats overseas.  Delegates from 12 of the 13 States attended

6. Branches of Government Federal Government Legislative Made the laws Executive Enforced the laws Judicial Interpreted the Laws

7. The Virginia Plan  Federal Government made up of 3 branches  Legislative  Executive  Judicial  Legislative would be made up of two houses  In both houses, the number of representatives from each state would be based on state’s population or its wealth  Senate  House of Representatives  Larger states supported the plan, smaller states opposed the plan

8. The New Jersey Plan  Federal Government made up of 3 branches.  Legislative  Executive  Judicial  The Legislative branch would be made up of one House.  In it, each state would only have one vote.

9. The Great Compromise  The Legislature would have two houses.  To satisfy the smaller states, each state would have an equal number of votes in the Senate.  To satisfy the larger states, the House of Representatives would set representation according to the state populations. Legislature (Congress) Senate Equal representation, 2 senators per state. House of Representatives Membership would be based on a states population.

10. The 3/5 Compromise  Under this compromise, three-fifths of the slave population would be counted when setting direct taxes on the states.  This three-fifths ratio also would be used to determine representation in the legislature.  Agreed that Congress could not ban the international slave trade until 1808.