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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?

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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