the constitutional convention

the founding fathers

55 delegates - philadelphia, PA - may 1787

• represented all states except rhode island

• mostly wealthy planters, lawyers, merchants; very politically experiences, signed constitution, 31 had college education; not written by average americans - written by the wealthy for the wealthy

(written by white privileged men)

john locke (1632 - 1704)

• protection of property, power to gov’t, right to revolution

• gov’t ensures natural rights; limited purposes

jean jacques rousseau (1712 - 1778)

• social contract: by entering a society, we made an agreement w each other: agree to be governed for our own good & the good of all

• laws are acts of the general will (majority)

charles de montesquieu (1689 - 1755)

separation of powers - keeping every branch separate to prevent the mingling of power and a loss of liberty (tyranny) - legislative, executive, judiciary - “true separation”

representation in the legislature

• virginia plan and new jersey plan

• great (CT) compromise

virginia plan and new jersey plan

• VA: based on population: larger states= more votes

• NJ: every state should have the same amount of representatives (equal)

great (CT) compromise

• combined two plans (VA & NJ): bicameral legislature: house of representatives (population) and senate (2 per state)

compromise: slavery

• 3/5 compromise (slaves count as 3/5 a person as part of the population)

• slave trade - 1808: should the US continue to allow the importation of trade (into the nation) - nothing could be done until 1808 (when it was outlawed)

compromise: control of the economy

• congress coints money, levis and collects taxes, regulates interstate and foreign commerce

• restrictions on direct taxation (income) and exports