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Debate at the Constitutional Convention

Debate at the Constitutional Convention. Shays’s Rebellion- Call for change . Money problems under the AOC Federal Gov’t can’t charge tax States are printing their own money US Gov’t owes money to France, soldiers, etc. Daniel Shays lead a rebellion of farmers in Massachusetts

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Debate at the Constitutional Convention

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  1. Debate at the Constitutional Convention

  2. Shays’s Rebellion- Call for change • Money problems under the AOC • Federal Gov’t can’t charge tax • States are printing their own money • US Gov’t owes money to France, soldiers, etc. • Daniel Shays lead a rebellion of farmers in Massachusetts • National government is too weak to stop uprisings • The Money problems were sincere

  3. The Convention Opens • Philadelphia • Initially they were just going to REVISE the AoC • George Washington elected leader • The delegates: • 55 delegates from 12 states • Rhode Island refused to attend • Some famous people were missing • “well-bred, well-fed, well-read, and well-wed” • Average age 42 • Ben Franklin- 81- was the oldest • James Madison- “father of the Constitution” kept detailed notes • Rule of secrecy • All believed in ideas of the DOI

  4. Issue #1: Should all states have the same # of reps or should it be based on population? Virginia Plan New Jersey Plan • By Madison • 3 branch govt • Bicameral legislature • Rep. in both houses based on population • By Paterson • 3 branch govt • Unicameral legislature • Rep. in each house is equal

  5. The Connecticut Compromise (aka the Great Compromise) • By Roger Sherman • 3 branch govt • Bicameral legislature • 1 house—House of Representatives based on population- people elect • 1 house—Senate equal for each state- state legislators choose

  6. Issue #2: Should slaves be counted as people when doing the population count for determining the # of representatives? Slave State View Free State View • Yes! The more people we have, the more representatives we get! • No! Slaves don’t have any rights, so the southerners shouldn’t get to count them!

  7. Three-Fifths Compromise • Slaves will count as 3/5 of a person when doing population counts, but the slaves owners will pay taxes for their slaves. Slave Trade: • Congress can’t tax exports • Congress won’t stop slave trade for 20 years (until 1808)

  8. Constitution Day! September 17, 1787

  9. Final copy of the Constitution is approved and signed by 39 people (14 left Convention, 3 refused to sign it) • Ratification—had to have 9 states ratify, but they wanted all of them

  10. Can we get everyone to agree to the Constitution? Federalists Anti-Federalists • The Constitution is as good as it’s going to get • Articles are too weak and we need a stronger gov’t • Powers given to gov’t were limited and divided between three branches • James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, & John Jay • Wrote a group of essays called The Federalist Papers to get people to ratify it • Central govt is too strong • Taxing is going to be too extreme • President has too much power • People don’t have any rights- the gov’t will abuse them (need a Bill of Rights)

  11. The Bill of Rights • 10 Amendments added to the Constitution that gives the citizens rights

  12. The Constitution • Written in 1787; ratified in 1789 • Fairly short; only 7,000 words • Outlines the Basic Principles of our Government • Our United States Constitution is broken down into 3 main parts.

  13. The Constitution (cont.) PART 1: Preamble: The introduction (states the purpose of the constitution) PART 2: Articles: There are 7 Articles (sections) Article 1: Legislative Branch Article 2: Executive Branch Article 3: Judicial Branch Article 4: State Relations (provides that all the states have a republican form of gov’t) Article 5: Amendment Process Article 6: Oath of Office; Supremacy Clause: Constitution is the “Supreme Law of the Land” Article 7: Ratification process (needs 9 states) PART 3: The 27 Amendments 1st ten amendments are known as the Bill of Rights

  14. Six Basic Principles 1. Popular Sovereignty- people have the power

  15. Six Basic Principles 2. Limited Government- government only has the power given to it by the people. Rule of Law-gov’t and its officials are never above the law.

  16. Six Basic Principles 3. Separation of Power- 3 separate branches of gov’t: Legislative, Executive, & Judicial. All independent & coequal

  17. Six Basic Principles 4. Checks & Balances- Each branch can check (restrain) the power of the other branches to ensure a balance of power, so no one branch becomes too powerful.

  18. Six Basic Principles 5. Judicial Review- the Supreme Court has the power to declare acts of the gov’t unconstitutional and may remove them. Est. by the landmark Supreme Court case: Marbury v. Madison, 1803

  19. Six Basic Principles 6. Federalism- powers in our government are divided between the national government and state governments.

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