The Constitutional Convention

1. The Constitutional Convention L/S/N Government Miss Heller

2. Influences on U.S. Democracy • Ancient Greek and Roman Democracies • Rousseau, Montesquieu, and Locke

3. Ideas that Came From England • Common Law and Precedence • Magna Carta (1215) • English Bill of Rights (1689)

4. Vocabulary • Ratification—official approval of the Constitution, or an amendment, by the people of the United States. • Federalists—supporters of the Constitution and of a strong national government. • Anti-federalists—opposed strong government and the Constitution • Federalist Papers—a series of essays defending the Constitution. • Bill of Rights—a formal summary of citizens’ rights and freedoms.

5. Organization of the Convention • George Washington elected presiding officer • Each state would have one vote on all questions and a majority vote of those states present would make decisions • Meetings to be held only if 7 of 13 states were present. • Public and Press locked out of sessions. • BONUS: Why do you think they did this???

6. Key Agreements • Abandon government under the Articles and begin again. • All favored the ideas of limited and representative government. • Powers of national government divided into three branches. • Favored a stronger national government.

7. Virginia Plan Edmund Randolph Principles: Strong national legislature with 2 chambers Strong national executive National judiciary Became base for Constitution New Jersey Plan William Patterson Features: Unicameral legislature with expanded powers Weak executive National judiciary with limited power Plan was to amend the Articles Conflict Over Representation

8. The Connecticut (Great) Compromise • Designed by Roger Sherman • Proposed a bicameral legislature • House of Representatives—state representation based on population (proportional representation) • Senate—two members from each state • Large states would have advantage in House whereas smaller states would be protected in Senate.

9. Three-Fifths Compromise • Southern states concerned with African Americans counting for purposes of population count and tax collection • Decision: three-fifths of the enslaved people would be counted for tax purposes and representation.

10. Compromise on Commerce and Slave Trade • North wanted government to control all commerce. • South feared government would set up trade agreements that would hurt agricultural interests and interfere with slave trade. • Compromise: Congress would not ban slave trade until 1808; Congress given power to regulate interstate and foreign trade but could not impose export taxes.

11. Other Compromises • Electing the President directly or indirectly? • Compromise: Electoral College system • Length of Presidential Term? • Compromise: 4-year terms

12. Think About It… As the Constitutional Convention came to a close, Benjamin Franklin remarked on the sun painted on the back of General Washington’s chair, wondering whether the sun was rising or falling: “But now at length I have the happiness to know, it is a rising and not a setting Sun.” What does that mean???

13. Anti-federalists Criticized Constitution as extralegal Constitution lacked sufficient protection for individual rights from the government—Bill of Rights Strong opponent of Constitution: Patrick Henry Federalists Strong gov’t needed to prevent anarchy Argued against need for Bill or Rights but agreed to add one in order to gain ratification Proponents: George Washington, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton The Battle Over Ratification

14. Learning Log: What do you think of the Conflicts and Compromises that took place during the Constitutional Convention? Had you been a participant, would have argued for or against ratification of the Constitution?