The Formation of the United States Constitution

1. The Formation of the United States Constitution

2. Is this a rising or a setting sun?

3. Benjamin Franklin stated: “I have often looked at that behind the president without being able to tell whether it was rising or setting. But now I…know that it is a rising…sun.”

4. Shays Rebellion • Occurred during the summer and fall of 1786 • Daniel Shays, a Massachusetts farmer, returned from the war to discover he was in debt and his farm might be taken away • Shays stated that this was from over taxation • Shays demanded courts be closed to keep land from being taken • September 1786 Shays led army of farmers to close courts • 1787 Shays led 1,200 men to arsenal • Militia were called out and four rebels killed • Rebellion caused panic • Other states worried that rebellion would strike them • People knew it was time for a stronger nation

5. Call for Convention Annapolis Convention (September 1786) • Attended by James Madison of Virginia and Alexander Hamilton of New York • Hamilton wanted states to discuss interstate trade and the problems with the current Articles of Confederation • Only five states sent representatives, delegates called for another meeting the next year in Philadelphia • Shay’s Rebellion convinced states to send delegates to second convention in Philadelphia

6. The Federal Convention • Today called the Constitutional Convention • Lasted from May-September 1787 • 55 delegated attended, though some only stayed for part of the session • Very hot summer in Philly • Secrecy was very important, all windows were kept closed, delegates told not to talk • Most delegates wealthy, all were WHITE MALES who owned land • George Washington elected President of the convention

7. Faces of the Constitutional Convention

8. Is this man young or old? Does he look rich or poor? Do you think he was liberal or conservative? Is he from the North or the South? Do you know who it is?

14. The Great Compromise • Two plans for government were proposed at the Convention • Virginia Plan: James Madison said that their should be a bicameral legislature with membership based on population of the states • New Jersey Plan: William Paterson said there should be one house where each state had one equal vote • Roger Sherman proposed a compromise • Two Houses • Senate: Where each state would have two reps. • House of Representatives: Where membership would be based on population • Called the Great Compromise and gave us what we now call: Congress

15. Three-Fifths Compromise • Representation that would be based on population called into question who would be counted as part of the population • Southern states wanted slaves to count • Northern states felt that if they were not considered free they should not be counted • Eventually delegates agreed to count three-fifths of a state’s slaves as population

16. What do you think? • Was this fair? • Why didn’t the delegates use this time to abolish slavery? • The delegates decided to continue slave trade for twenty more years and then stop it. Why didn’t they stop it immediately? • Could they have prevented the Civil War? • What does this tell us about the delegates?

17. How to Organize a Government • The delegates had to decide the best way to organize the government • All agreed on three branches of government • Legislative Branch: to make the laws • Executive Branch: to carry out the laws • Judicial Branch: to interpret the laws • Checks and Balances were put into place so that no one branch could be stronger then another • Decided that they would have an executive leader and he would be called: President

18. Journal • Pick one theme, thought, idea, etc…, that you have learned today. Write down your thoughts about that idea. Do you agree or disagree? State why. Do you have a better idea? What is it? Do you think your idea would have been done differently if the convention were held today? • We will write for ten minutes.

19. Discussion Images: Society in 1787