Constitutional Convention and Shays' Rebellion Notes

Constitutional Convention and Shays' Rebellion

Overview of Shays' Rebellion

  • 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.

Essential Question

  • What compromises emerged from the Constitutional Convention?

Weakness of the Articles of Confederation

  • 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.

Constitutional Convention Called

  • 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.

Importance of the Convention

  • Acknowledgment of the risk involved: delegates expressed commitment to effecting substantial changes to avoid national disaster.

Rejection of the Articles of Confederation

  • The convention ultimately decided not to revise the AOC but to draft a new constitution entirely.

Two Opposing Plans for Representation

  • 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.

Great Compromise

  • Compromise reached to satisfy both groups:

    • Three branches of government (Legislative, Executive, Judicial).

    • Bicameral legislature was established.

Issue #2: Representation of Slaves

  • 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.

Issue #3: Election of Chief Executive

  • 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.

Conclusion: Results of the Constitutional Convention

  • 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.