history: independence, confederation, constitutional convention p.2 Save

when was a meeting held to address the issue of Confederation weakness?

1787

where was this meeting held about confed. weakness?

Phillidelphia

What was the purpose of meeting about the confederation's weakness?

original purpose was to fix the Articles of Confederation

What does the meeting become known as and why?

became known as Constitutional Confederation because they made a whole new govt (today's form of govt)

define constitution

written plan of govt

how many delegates were there at the Constitutional Convention?

55 delegates

what is "delegates" a term for?

term for representative

what state did not send delegates to the Constitutional Confederation?

Rhode Island

who was chosen to preside over (run) the meeings of the const. conv.?

George Washington chosen to run meetings

which delegate was given the nickname the "Father of the Constitution"?

James Madison

what were the two reasons James Madison got his nickname?

he was the main author of the Constitution, he also kept a journal of the events which gives us understanding of the debates/compromises

what are the two reasons the meeting of the const. conv. were held in secret?

1. to avoid pressure from outside

2. avoid upsetting the public prior to making decision

define compromise

an agreement in which both sides give up part of their demands

how did the founding fathers fix issues of national govt not having too little/too much power?

created 3 branch govt, powers would be balanced between branches

what were the 3 branches of the national govt and their powers?

Legislative - pass laws

Executive - enforce laws

Judicial - interpret laws

what did the larger populated states want in terms of representation in Congress?

wanted representation based on population, would give them more say in congress

what did the smaller populated states want in terms of representation in congress?

wanted equal representation, so larger states couldn't make decisions without smaller state input

who was the author of the Great Compromise (addressed representation)

Roger Sherman

what state was Roger Sherman a delegate from?

CT

What does a bicameral legislature mean?

has two houses, or two chambers/sections

what two houses were in the newly formed legislature/congress for the new nation?

House of Representatives and the Senate

how was the representation decided in the House of Representatives?

number of reps per state based on population

how was representation in the senate going to be set up?

there would be 2 senators per state

what did slave stated want in terms of counting slaves toward population?

wanted slaves to count towards population

why did slave states want to count all slaves toward population?

would give states more reps on the House of Reps

what did free states want when counting slaves toward population?

did not want slaves counted toward population

why did free states not want slaves to count toward population?

would give slave states more reps in the House of Reps and more power

why were slaves considered at the time of the Constitution's creation?

because slaves were considered property

why did the slave states not want to count slaves as property?

did not want to pay taxes on slaves as it would mean more taxes on slave states versus free states

what was the view of the free states when it came to charging taxes for slaves?

believed slave owners should pay taxes for their slaves, as they were considered property and part of their economic system

what was the 3/5 compromise?

for every 5 slaves, only 3 were counted toward population and taxes

why did southern states not want slavery outlawed?

their economy was focused on slave labor needed for cash crops: cotton, tobacco, and indigo

why would outlawing slavery be a problem for the new nation?

would most likely lead to slave states breaking off into its own nation

what was the compromise made by the slave and free states regarding slavery?

congress could regulate foreign trade and interstate trade, but they could not outlaw slave trade until 1808

define federalism

the powers of govt were divided between the national and state govts