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Convention & Compromise

Convention & Compromise. American leaders fix the problems of the Articles of Confederation. Revising the Articles. The Confederation was not working. In 1787, delegates from 12 states gathered in Philadelphia.

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Convention & Compromise

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  1. Convention & Compromise American leaders fix the problems of the Articles of Confederation

  2. Revising the Articles • The Confederation was not working. • In 1787, delegates from 12 states gathered in Philadelphia. • The sole purpose was to revise the Articles of Confederation.

  3. Economic Depression • The U.S. went through a depression when the war ended: • Unemployment increased • Trade fell • Little $ to pay foreign debt • Farmers could not sell their goods • Each state printed its own $ and did not accept $ from other states

  4. Shays’ Rebellion • Farmers unable to pay their debts had their land taken away and were imprisoned. • Daniel Shays led farmers & forced the courts in Massachusetts to close. • This kept the state from taking their farms. • The state militia ordered farmers to stop but they refused. • The militia fired, 4 rebels died

  5. The Issue of Slavery • Slavery was important to the plantation system in the south. • The southern economy could not survive without it. • In the North, free African Americans faced discrimination and were barred from public places.

  6. Free Blacks • Virginia issued a law called manumission that encouraged the freeing of individual enslaved persons. • The abolition of slavery in the North divided the new country

  7. A Call for Change • The American Revolution created a union of 13 states, it did not create a strong national government. • Leaders demanded a reform of the Articles of Confederation • September 1786, leaders met in Philadelphia to discuss trade issues and possible changes to the Articles.

  8. The Effects of Shays’ Rebellion • Leaders worried that the government could not control unrest and prevent violence. • George Washington = not happy w/ ideas of revising the Articles of Confederation. • He changed his mind after Shays’ Rebellion

  9. The Constitutional Convention • Many delegates @ Convention in Philadelphia were well educated • James Madison: known as the “Father of the Constitution” • He was the author of the basic plan of government.

  10. Organization • George Washington was unanimously chosen to run meetings • Each state had 1 vote on all questions. • The majority vote would make decisions.

  11. The Virginia Plan • Instead of revising the Articles, Edmund Randolf proposed that they create a strong national government. • Virginia Planwas based largely on the work of James Madison

  12. What was the Virginia Plan? • The plan called for a two-house legislature • 1) Chief Executive • 2) Court System • Lower house legislature elected by the people • Upper house legislature chosen by the lower house • The number of representatives would be proportionate to the population of each state

  13. The New Jersey Plan • Had a one house legislature and one vote for each state. • Congress would be able to set taxes and regulate trade. • Congress would elect an executive branch made up of more than one person.

  14. Compromise Wins Out • The States voted for a government based on the Virginia Plan • Roger Sherman proposed what came to be known as the Great Compromise. • Compromise: agreement between 2 or more sides in which each side gives up a little.

  15. What was the Great Compromise? • 2 senators for each state. • # of Reps in the HoR = state population • Equal amount # of Reps in Senate • Slaves counted as three-fifths of a person. • Majority vote in House and Senate needed to pass a law. • Balanced powers between executive, judicial, and legislative branches

  16. Objections Are Raised • What about slaves? Were they population or property? • South said: slaves = Population (so they could get more representation) • North said: Property (so they had a chance at better representation) • The Three-Fifths Compromise: an enslaved person counted as three-fifths of one free person for both taxation and representation.

  17. Slave Trade • Northern delegates wanted to slow and eventually stop the spread of slavery. • Since the slave trade was essential to Southern states, Northerners agreed that Congress could not interfere with the slave trade until 1808.

  18. Approval of the Constitution • Some delegates did not want to sign the Constitution • They worried that without the protection of the bill of rights, the new national government might abuse its powers • Only 9 out of 13 states had to approve the Constitution

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