The Critical Period: Honors US History II

Definitions: 

Federalism: the division of power between the national government and the state governments

Sovereignty: the final say (more power)

The Philadelphia Convention (1787-1788):

• 55 delegates at the convention from 12 states, Rhode Island doesn't come

• Sometimes known as “the convention of demi-gods”

• George Washington was there and was quickly elected as president of convention

  • The President at the time was quiet and listened

• Would be secret, wouldn't give updates to the public

  • Don't want public criticizing it, wanted to have free discussion in privacy

• James Madison: AKA Father of the Constitution

  • Was thorough and read everything

  • Always had a plan, people might not agree with everything but he always had structure

The Virginia Plan

• Drafted by Madison

• Proportional Representation

  • Based on the population of the state,

  • Higher population = more representation in the government

• Bicameral Legislature

  • Lower house choses upper house

  • Criticized by William Patterson

The New Jersey Plan

• William Pattersons response to The Virginia Plan

• Unicameral Legislature

• Equal representation

The Great Compromise

• Congress will have a bicameral legislature

• House of representatives: proportional

• Senate: equal representation

Slavery Question: Should slaves count towards a state's population?

• 5 states are dependent on slavery, there are 8 that are not

⅗ Compromise

• People who are enslaved count as ⅗ of a person (60% are counted towards the population for the purposes of taxes and representation)

Other Provisions: Slavery

• Fugitive Slave Clause

  • If someone escapes from slavery from another state, that slave is not free and the state it escaped into is obligated to return the slave: don't use the word slavery in the constitution, heavily avoid it

• International Slave Trade cannot be discontinued for 20 years