Reforming the National Government and The 1787 Constitutional Convention

Reforming the National Government

• by mid-1780s, elite leaders agree change is needed
• political divisions echoed those of the revolution:
  • most former moderates:
  • nationalist, wanted strong central government
  • most former radicals:
  • localist/regionalist, suspicious of central government
  • 1786 Annapolis Convention
  • failure, only 5 states attend
  • plan to meet in philadelphia, summer 1787
  • meanwhile, shays’ rebellion and economic crisis and congressional stalemate

The 1787 Constitutional Convention

• philadelphia, summer 1787
  • 55 delegates (all states but Rhode Island)
  • tight secrecy
  • dubious legality/legitimacy
• mostly moderate nationalists
  • young (30-40s), elite, aristocratic
  • about 25 owned slaves
• agreed on basics:
  • government needed to be more powerful
  • should be a republic
• two key sets of disagreements:
  • how to determine each state’s representation in new government
  • big vs small states
  • free vs slave states
  • the future of slavery
  • should it end/continue and how?
  • who should decide, states or federal government?

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