Download The Constitutional Convention

1787
Why did was there a convention?
 After Shay’s Rebellion the
delegates realized the
Articles of Confederation
were not working
 At first just wanted to fix
the Articles
 Realized would need to
give more power to a
national government
 Decided to write a
Constitution
Terms to Know
 Delegate: person picked
to represent you
 Framer: A delegate at the
Constitution Convention
who helped with the
Constitution
 Founder: A Delegate who
helped with the
Revolutionary War
 Ratification: formal
approval of the
Constitution
Independence Hall in Philadelphia
Who were the
Framers?
George Washington
 After Revolutionary War wanted
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to retire back to Virginia
Went to the Convention so
others would also go
Became the President of the
Convention
Wanted everyone to share their
opinions
Wanted a strong national
government
James Madison
 From Virginia
 Wanted a Strong National
Government
 Wrote the Virginia Plan
 Known as the “Father of the
Constitution” because most of his
ideas were used
 Secretly wrote notes about the
convention
 Representative
Dem0cracy
Who were the Framers?
Alexander Hamilton
Ben Franklin
 Wanted a strong national
 From Pennsylvania
government
 Became angry and left
convention early
 Suggested a King for the new
leader & people were angry
 Will later set up our economic
system
 Oldest delegate at the
convention
 Respected & helps negotiate the
Great Compromise
 Wants a strong national
government
Who were the Framers?
George Mason
Roger Sherman
 From Virginia
 From Connecticut
 Does not agree with a strong
 Came up with the Connecticut
national government
 Wants a list of rights that will
protect the rights of the
people called a Bill of Rights
Plan which became the Great
Compromise
Not at the Convention
Patrick Henry
Thomas Jefferson
 A Founder
 From Virginia
 During Revolution said “Give
 Agreed with a strong national
Me Liberty or Give Me Death”
 Did not go to the convention
because he “smelled a rat”
 He feared a strong
national government
government
 Was in France as an
ambassador so was not at the
convention
It’s a Secret!
 Why?
 1. Don’t want the
delegates to be
influenced by special
interests of the people
 2. Want an open
discussion to get more
ideas
 3. Afraid the people will
not agree with it
Issue #1
Small States
Big States
 What did they want?
 What did they want?
 Just wanted to fix the Articles
 Proportional
of Confederation because
each state only had one vote
 Equal Representation:
Each state has same number
of votes regardless of size
 Afraid big states would
become too powerful
Representation: number of
votes should be determined
by population
 Bigger states would have
more votes
Solution:
 Legislative Branch would
have two houses
 1. House of
Representatives:
Proportional
Representation by
population
 2. The Senate: Equal
Representation-every
state has two Senators
Legislative Branch
Congress
HOR
• Proportional
Representation
• Deals with
Government
Spending & Taxes
Senate
• Equal
Representation
• Every State has 2
Senators
Issue #2:
Northern States
 Wanted to end slave trade
Southern States
 Did not want to abolish
 Did not want slaves to count
as population for
representation
 Wanted tariffs on foreign
trade
 Tariff: tax on trade
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slavery
Abolish: to rid of or end
Wanted run away slaves
returned
Wanted slaves to count
toward population so have
more representatives
Did not want tariffs on trade
goods
Solution:
Northern States
 If Southern states counted
slaves toward population they
had to pay more tax
 Congress got the power to
control trade which helped
Northern states
Southern States
 Slave Trade could not end
until 1808
 Three-fifths Clause: each
Slave would count as 3/5 of a
person for representation
 Fugitive Slave Clause: run
away slaves must be returned
Issue #3: Who Has More Power?
National Government
State Government
 Federalists: want a strong
 Anti-Federalists: want a
national government
 Afraid a Bill of Rights would
limit the rights of citizens
 Feel need a stronger
government to unify the
states
weak national government
 Want a Bill of Rights to
guarantee citizens’ rights
 Afraid of another king
The Federalist Papers were
written by James Madison,
Alexander Hamilton & John Jay
to encourage support for a
strong national government.
 Necessary & Proper Clause:
Solutions:
What the National
Government Can Do:
 Apportioned: to divide and
assign
 Ex: Taxes will be apportioned
among the states
 Enumerated Powers: list of
jobs given to Congress
specifically listed in the
Constitution
 Ex: The Constitution
enumerates the powers of
Congress
Congress can make laws that
are needed to carry out their
powers
 Supremacy Clause: the
Constitution is the highest
law of the land & must be
followed by everyone
(including the states &
courts)
Solutions:
What the National Gov.
Can’t Do:
 Bills of Attainder:
Punishing someone for a
crime without a trial
 Ex Post Facto: (After the
Fact)
 Can’t punish someone for a
crime if it wasn’t a crime
when they committed it
 Writ of Habeas Corpus: can
not hold a prisoner unless
have a reason to put them in
jail
Terms to Know:
 National Government + State
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Government= Federal System
Treason: aiding the enemy
during wartime; betraying your
country
The only crime listed in the
Constitution
Separated Powers: Each
branch has different jobs
Balance of Powers: no one
branch can become too powerful
over the other