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?