Constitution I

1. Development of the Constitution

2. WEAKNESSES OF THE ARTICLE OF CONFEDERATION • Congress could not collect taxes • Each state had one vote regardless of population • No executive branch • No national court system • Nine of thirteen states needed to agree to pass any law • Lacked national unity • Weak Central Gov’t

3. Something Must Be Done Annapolis Convention – 1786 Originally meant to discuss trade regulations Only five states show up Representatives agree – Must discuss strengthening the government Idea is popular among states

4. CREATING A NEW GOVERNMENT • The delegates at the Constitutional Convention realized the need to strengthen the central government • They soon decided to create an entirely new Constitution instead of amending the Articles • Compromise was the order of the day

5. Background - The Constitutional Convention of 1787 • Met in Philadelphia • Examine and recommend changes to the existing Articles of Confederation • May – Sept 1787

6. Composition – Who was there? • Wealthy upper class, white men • Selected by state legislatures, not popular vote • George Washington • Ben Franklin • Alexander Hamilton • James Madison • Roger Sherman • Notable names not present • John Adams (minister to England) • Thomas Jefferson (minister to France)

7. Virginia Delegation • Led by James Madison • Had every intention of creating a new constitution • This is Virginia’s mission in Philadelphia • Virginia Plan • crafted by Madison • presented by Edmund Randolph

8. Initial Decisions Constitutional Convention o • Presiding officer – George Washington • Every state - one vote • Proceedings held in secret • Concerned newspapers would criticize decisions • Not democratic • The delegates want a government that was … • Firm, dignified, respected at home and abroad • Strong against instability at home • From the start, decided the A of C were too flawed • Virginians set the tone - introduced Virginia Plan • They weren’t authorized to change AOC, but they did it anyway

9. VIRGINIA VS. NEW JERSEY PLANS • Virginia Plan: Bicameral Legislation based on state population • New Jersey Plan: Unicameral Legislation based on one state = one vote

10. Two Plans • Virginia Plan • Presented by Edmund Randolph – Gov from Virginia • Three branches – legislature strongest • Bicameral house • 50% required to pass legislation • Strong federal government • Could veto state laws • Smaller states object since they would have no influence • New Jersey Plan • Proposed by William Paterson – delegate • Presented as a series of amendments to the AOC • Unicameral house • Would create an executive, a judiciary, federal taxes, federal regulation of trade • But would require a unanimous vote to pass these taxes, trade regs • Larger states rejected since smaller states would have equal power

11. Centrist View • The Virginia Plan became seen as a centrist plan because • NJ Plan was a glorified version of the A of C • Alexander Hamilton introduced the idea of a constitutional monarchy • Far more conservative than the Virginia Plan • This was calculated to help Va. Plan

12. Connecticut Compromise (Great Compromise) • Roger Sherman is the architect for this plan • Have a Legislature where the lower house was popularly elected • assigned delegates based on population • House of Representatives • The Upper house would have equal reps from each state • The Senate • Elected by state legislatures • Only need 50% of the vote to pass legislation

13. Questions • Describe the strengths and weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation. • When did the states begin to move toward modifying the Articles of Confederation? What was the initial objective and how did it evolve and change? • Compare and contrast the two plans taken up by the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia. • Describe the compromise that was developed and how it provided the framework for the constitution.