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Creating a Constitution

Creating a Constitution. Chapter 8, Section 2. A Constitutional Convention is Called. End of the Articles of Confederation ( A of C ): 1786: 5 state delegates meet in Annapolis, Maryland Discuss trade among states Putting trade laws in A of C meant all states needed to agree

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Creating a Constitution

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  1. Creating a Constitution Chapter 8, Section 2

  2. A Constitutional Convention is Called End of the Articles of Confederation (A of C): 1786: • 5 state delegates meet in Annapolis, Maryland • Discuss trade among states • Putting trade laws in A of C meant all states needed to agree • Decided to meet in Philadelphia in 1787 to make changes • All showed up except Rhode Island! • This meant they couldn’t make changes • All realized A of C wouldn’t work

  3. The Convention’s Delegates Constitutional Convention, 1787 55 delegates - Philadelphia, PA ½ were lawyers Rest were planters, merchants, doctors ¾ were in the Continental Congress Many were in state legislatures These men are considered “Founding Fathers”

  4. The Convention’s Delegates (cont’d) Famous delegates: • George Washington • Came out of retirement • Ben Franklin • James Madison • Brought with him over 100 books on government Not there: • Thomas Jefferson • John Adams • Native Americans • African Americans • Women

  5. Delegates Assemble! • Most had no idea what they were going to do. • Some thought they would only be changing A of C. • Problem for delegates: • Gov’t had to be strong • Protect people’s rights • Maintain order • Not too strong to be controlled

  6. The Convention Begins • George Washington elected leader of the convention • Rules established: • All ideas considered and debated • Ability to change sides • Discussions would be secret • Windows closed and blocked • Guards outside of doors • When doors open - no talking

  7. The Virginia Plan 1st Plan considered by the Convention • Delegates from Virginia came up with plan • Government would have 3 branches • Legislature made laws • Levy taxes • Regulate commerce • Make laws • Executive enforced laws • Judiciaryinterpreted laws • Legislature had two houses • # of reps would be based on population

  8. The New Jersey Plan Response to the Virginia Plan • Legislature had one house • Each state would have one vote • “Equal Representation” • Legislature power to regulate trade and commerce • Tax foreign goods • State laws subordinate to national laws

  9. Slavery Big Question: If representation is based on population, what about slaves? • North vs South • Who had more slaves? • South wanted them counted as people, but not for taxation Three-Fifths Compromise • 3/5 of slave population would be counted for population and taxation Ban on Slavery? • Slavery was already banned in the North • Northerners wanted to see it banned elsewhere • Compromise: Congress would not ban the slave trade until 1808

  10. Regulating Trade Congress had few limits on regulating trade • This helped promote commercewith: • States • Foreign nations • Native tribes • Southerners got Congress to not tax exports Constitution was agreed upon on September 15, 1787 • Then written, signed, and sent to Confederation Congress for approval, then to states for ratification…to be continued

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