Constitutional Convention Foldable

Virginia Plan

Virginia Plan

• James Madison

• Power to tax + regulate trade

• 3 branches of power (legislative, judicial, executive)

• BICAMERAL legislature:

  • HOR + Senate

• Power to veto state laws (similar to Parliament power)

• 7 yr Presidency, no reelection

  • Command army + manage foreign affairs

  • Appoints executive & judicial officers, must be approved by Senate

• Patrick Henry feared President was too close to a King

New Jersey Plan

• William Paterson (NJ)

• Power to tax + regulate trade

• Loose confederation

Kept 3 big principles from AOC:

• Unicameral legislature, each state has = representation

• Executive COMMITTEE (no prez)

• Each state sovereign except for the few powers specifically granted to the national government

Connecticut Compromise/The Great Compromise

• Roger Sherman + John Dickinson

• Cannot veto state laws but forbade states enacting offensive laws

  • ex: making their own currencies

• compromise = delegates supporting federalism

  • divided power between states & fed gov

John Dickinson:

• 2 senators per state

• HOR represents population

Northern Delegates

• More free ppl —> threatened slave system which south was dependent on for economy

• Madison is torn:

  • wanted powerful nation and hated slavery

  • had slaves

• Preferred HOR being based on free ppl because larger ratio of their population they would have more representation

Southern Delegates

• Feared future domination of North bc North had more free people

• South Carolina & Georgia threatened to walk out unless constitution protected slavery

3/5 Compromise

Madison knew South Delegates would reject constitution that threatened slavery

• each slave is 3/5 of a person added to representation

• Required states to return fugitive states to their owners (slaves cannot run to free states to become free)

• Delegates changed from unanimous vote to 9/13

• Took away ratification decision from states bc states likely wouldn’t vote for a constitution where they lost rep.

• Special election conventions

Federalist Beliefs

• Favored constitution

• Strong gov. was necessary

• Checks & balances protect individual rights

• BOR in constitution is unnecessary bc state gov already protects rights w/ checks and balances

Who were Federalists

• George Washington, Hamilton, James Madison, Benjamin Franklin

• AOC was weak & only new constitution could fix it

• Wealthy/urban merchants

Antifederalist Beliefs

• Opposed new constitution

• Supported weaker central gov, and AOC

• Strong gov would threaten liberty & individual rights

• Wanted to include BOR in constitution

• More power to state governments

Who were Antifederalists

• Lower class, rural farmers

• Samuel Adams, John Hancock, George Clinton, Richard Henry Lee, Patrick Henry

How Federalists won Support

• Constitution threatened state debtor-relief laws which scared farmers

• GW + Franklin endorsed constitution

• SOME farmers believed stronger gov —> being abled to defeat NAs

• Special Election Conventions were by seaports (newspapers = favored Federalists)

• Artisans hoped strong gov would improve economy

• Federalists acted quicker bc they had nationwide + connections

• Antifederalists (ex: state politicians) had less nationwide influence

Alexander Hamilton

• Bold actions, very conservative

• Disliked democracy, ❤ british governement

• Wanted a balanced gov with monarch & aristocracy & republicanism

James Madison

• Arrived early at convention + sent proactive letters to Washington

• Critic of democracy, but believed republicanism > brit. gov

• didn’t like a small gov, wanted a large & diverse republic

• checks & balances

• Educated > political leaders for representatives

Governor Morris of PA

• Wanted a strong central gov

• Wanted lifetime presidencey