APUSH - Topic 3.8 The Constitutional Convention and Debates Over Ratification

Explain the differing ideological positions on the structure and function of the federal government.

What occurred at the Annapolis Convention?

• conference hosted by Washington to discuss country’s inability to deal with problems (1785)

• continued discussion at Annapolis Convention (1786)

  • decided to host another convention in Philadelphia to revise Articles of Confederation (1787)

What did some attendees of the convention at Philadelphia believe in?

• federalism

  • strong but limited central govt.

  • wanted checks and balances

    • separation of powers

What was the debate on representation of citizens in the convention at Philadelphia?

• whether larger states should have more representation

• Virginia Plan → proportional representation

• New Jersey Plan → equal representation

• Connecticut Plan (Great Compromise)

  • bicameral Congress

  • equal in Senate, proportionate in House of Reps.

What was the debate on slavery at the convention in Philadelphia?

• should slaves be part of population count

  • Three-Fifths Compromise

    • each slaves is 3/5s of a person for taxation and representation

• should slave trade be allowed

  • slaves can be imported for 20 more years → decide again then

What was the debate on trade at the convention in Philadelphia?

• Commercial Compromise

  • Congress regulates interstate and foreign commerce + tariffs on foreign imports

  • cannot tax exports

What was the debate over presidency at the convention in Philadelphia?

• length of term

  • each term is 4 years but no term limit

• voting

  • electoral college system

    • each state gets specific number of votes

    • scared that too much democracy would lead to mob rule

• presidential power

  • got substantial power + power to veto acts of Congress

What were some of the viewpoints in the debate of ratifying the Constitution?

• federalists

  • strong fed govt. to maintain order

  • mostly Atlantic Coast and large cities

• Anti-Federalists

  • strong central govt. would limit democracy and states’ rights

  • mostly small farmers and western frontier

What literature influenced the ratification of the Constitution?

• The Federalist Papers (James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, John Jay)

  • reasons for supporting COnstitution

What initially prevented many people from supporting the new Constitution?

• lack of a bill of rights

• Federalists eventually promised to add Bill of Rights to Constitution

What occurred during the ratification of the Constitution?

• Federalists won nine votes to ratify

• Virginia and New York didn’t act

  • Federalists in Virginia barely won against Anti-federalists

    • promised bill of rights

    • ratified

  • New York influenced by Virginia to ratify

• North Carolina and Rhode Island followed in next two years