3: Constitutional Convention

What was it + When + demographic

• 1787: Goal was to create new constitutions

• 55 delegates from each state except Rhode Island

  •  -> all reps had same ideologies (democracy) and were all white property owners, merchants or slaveholding plantation (no artisans, tenants, blacks, women) = easier consensus

• They designed “The Constitution”

Federalists

(supported ratification -> ready to sign document w/o edits) -> become federalists political party -> republicans

• From northern states, make $ thru merchanting etc, and want a more powerful central gov capable of managing economy = growing worldly business economy -> afraid of poor and uneducated mass

  • Diff in climate = dont need slave labor bc farming is easy = diff way to make money

Federalist Key Figures

• Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay emerge bc they write a series of essays imploring citizens to support it

• A.H. became first secretary of the Treasury and was Geroge Washingons most trusted advisors

Anti-Federalists

(opposed ratification) -> become democratic republicans -> democrats

• From southern states, make $ thru slave labor, and want decentralized power w/ power in state b/c we dont want north authorities making taxes them and canceling slavery -> fearful for state and individuals

  • Difference in climate = need slave labor bc picking cotton is brutal = diff way to make money

  • Don't settle for less, tax the south that benefits north?

Anti-Federalist Key Figures

• No key figure: … George Mason, Patrick Henry, Thomas Jefferson (sort of, supported the constitution but his ideas influenced anti)