3.8: The Constitutional Convention and Debates Over Ratification

Constitutional Convention

• Constitutional Convention - Philadelphia, 1787, 55 delegates

• Pressing question: whether they should fix the articles or create a new constitution

• James Madison and Alexander Hamilton advocated for a new constitution

  • Stronger federal government

Representation

• Virginia Plan

  • Centralized state

  • Bicameral legislature

  • Number of reps based on population

• New Jersey Plan

  • Unicameral legislature

  • Same number of reps from each state

• Great Compromise

  • House of Representatives based on population

  • Senate: each state had 2 votes

Representation of Slaves

• Whether enslaved population should be counted for representation

• South: yes!

• North: no.

• Three-Fifths Compromise

  • 3/5 of enslaved population counted for representation

• Slavery also being outlawed in Northwest territory; southern delegates wanted more security

  • Slave importation ban removed until 1808

Voting and Outcomes

• House of Reps voted by the people

  • 2-year terms

• Senate elected by state legislatures

  • 6-year terms

• Executive Branch

  • Process governed by Electoral College

  • President elected by states

  • People vote for certain number of electoral voters

• 9/13 states had to agree

  • Process; ratification

Federalists and Anti-Federalists

Federalists

• Mostly urban and commercial

• FOR ratification

• Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay published Federalist Papers

  • Explained nature of Constitution and why states should ratify

Anti-Federalists

• Thought Constitutiuon invested too much power in the national government at the expense of the states

• No provision for protection of individual rights

• Madison promised Bill of Rights; Constitution ratified

  • Enumerated individual rights

  • Restricted powers of federal government