Causes of Shays' Rebellion:
Congress lacked sufficient gold and silver for minting coins, leading to a money shortage.
Farmers struggled to earn enough income to pay debts and taxes.
Farmers, including Daniel Shays, were forced to sell land and livestock to settle debts.
Widespread belief that the nation was deteriorating.
Effects of Shays' Rebellion:
Prompted Congress to call for a convention to revise the Articles of Confederation (AOC).
Influenced leaders like Madison to advocate for a strong federal government due to the identified weaknesses in the AOC.
What compromises emerged from the Constitutional Convention?
Primary Weaknesses:
No centralized executive authority (President).
Absence of a military force (no national army).
Lack of a judicial system (no federal courts).
Inability to levy taxes (no federal taxation power).
Each state had only one vote in Congress regardless of size.
Date and Location:
May 25, 1787 at Independence Hall, Philadelphia.
Delegates:
All thirteen states invited, except Rhode Island (opposed strong central government).
55 delegates were well-educated individuals with political experience (lawyers, merchants, etc.).
Presidency of the Convention:
George Washington was elected to preside over the convention, respected for his wartime leadership.
Procedures Adopted:
Each state had one vote; decisions made by majority.
Discussions were kept secret to allow for open dialogue without public pressure.
Acknowledgment of the risk involved: delegates expressed commitment to effecting substantial changes to avoid national disaster.
The convention ultimately decided not to revise the AOC but to draft a new constitution entirely.
Key Issue: Determining representation in the new Congress.
Virginia Plan:
Proposed a government with three branches (executive, legislative, judicial).
Legislative branch to be bicameral (two houses) based on population, favoring larger states.
New Jersey Plan:
Suggested a unicameral legislature with equal representation for each state, favoring smaller states.
Compromise Needed:
Need to combine elements of both plans to appease both large and small states.
Compromise reached to satisfy both groups:
Three branches of government (Legislative, Executive, Judicial).
Bicameral legislature was established.
Population Count Controversy:
Northern perspective: Slaves should not be included in representation as they were considered property.
Southern perspective: Wanted slaves included for higher representation despite them not voting.
Three-Fifths Compromise:
Each enslaved person counted as 3/5 of a person for representation and taxation purposes.
Creation of Executive Branch:
Establishment of the presidency and vice presidency to ensure responsible leadership.
Debates over whether a single president or a three-member executive would be more effective.
Electoral College Established:
A system to elect the president where voters choose electors.
Total of 538 electoral votes; 270 needed to win the presidency.
The convention concluded with a new constitution drafted in 1787, establishing a stronger federal government as compared to the AOC, addressing key issues of representation, slavery, and executive power.
Constitutional Convention and Shays' Rebellion Notes
Causes of Shays' Rebellion:
Congress lacked sufficient gold and silver for minting coins, leading to a money shortage.
Farmers struggled to earn enough income to pay debts and taxes.
Farmers, including Daniel Shays, were forced to sell land and livestock to settle debts.
Widespread belief that the nation was deteriorating.
Effects of Shays' Rebellion:
Prompted Congress to call for a convention to revise the Articles of Confederation (AOC).
Influenced leaders like Madison to advocate for a strong federal government due to the identified weaknesses in the AOC.
What compromises emerged from the Constitutional Convention?
Primary Weaknesses:
No centralized executive authority (President).
Absence of a military force (no national army).
Lack of a judicial system (no federal courts).
Inability to levy taxes (no federal taxation power).
Each state had only one vote in Congress regardless of size.
Date and Location:
May 25, 1787 at Independence Hall, Philadelphia.
Delegates:
All thirteen states invited, except Rhode Island (opposed strong central government).
55 delegates were well-educated individuals with political experience (lawyers, merchants, etc.).
Presidency of the Convention:
George Washington was elected to preside over the convention, respected for his wartime leadership.
Procedures Adopted:
Each state had one vote; decisions made by majority.
Discussions were kept secret to allow for open dialogue without public pressure.
Acknowledgment of the risk involved: delegates expressed commitment to effecting substantial changes to avoid national disaster.
The convention ultimately decided not to revise the AOC but to draft a new constitution entirely.
Key Issue: Determining representation in the new Congress.
Virginia Plan:
Proposed a government with three branches (executive, legislative, judicial).
Legislative branch to be bicameral (two houses) based on population, favoring larger states.
New Jersey Plan:
Suggested a unicameral legislature with equal representation for each state, favoring smaller states.
Compromise Needed:
Need to combine elements of both plans to appease both large and small states.
Compromise reached to satisfy both groups:
Three branches of government (Legislative, Executive, Judicial).
Bicameral legislature was established.
Population Count Controversy:
Northern perspective: Slaves should not be included in representation as they were considered property.
Southern perspective: Wanted slaves included for higher representation despite them not voting.
Three-Fifths Compromise:
Each enslaved person counted as 3/5 of a person for representation and taxation purposes.
Creation of Executive Branch:
Establishment of the presidency and vice presidency to ensure responsible leadership.
Debates over whether a single president or a three-member executive would be more effective.
Electoral College Established:
A system to elect the president where voters choose electors.
Total of 538 electoral votes; 270 needed to win the presidency.
The convention concluded with a new constitution drafted in 1787, establishing a stronger federal government as compared to the AOC, addressing key issues of representation, slavery, and executive power.