The Constitutional Convention

  • The Place
      * Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
      * Old Statehouse
        * Known today as Independence Hall
      * The same place was used for the Declaration of Independence
      * Began on May 25, 1787
  • The Delegates
      * 74 delegates from 12 states
      * Only 55 delegates attended
      * Rhode Island did not participate
  • Organization
      * George Washington was elected President of the convention
      * Each state had one vote
      * Simple majority rules
        * 7 out of 13
      * Quorum of 7 needed to do business
      * Meetings were kept secret/confidential to allow free discussion
  • Key Agreements
      * Limited government
      * Separation of powers
      * End states creating their own money
      * States could not interfere with creditors’ rights
      * Stronger national government
  • Major Plans
      * Virginia Plan
        * Strong Congress
          * Lower chamber elected by people
          * Upper chamber elected by lower chamber
        * President chosen by Congress
        * Judiciary appointed by Congress
        * Problem
          * Big states would be in control
      * New Jersey Plan
        * Keep basics of Articles of Confederation
        * Unicameral Congress
          * One vote for each state
          * Given power to tax and regulate trade
        * Weak presidential committee appointed by Congress
        * Judiciary appointed by President
        * Problem
          * Retained many of the problems of the failed Articles of Confederation
          * National government would remain weak
  • The Compromise
      * Connecticut Compromise
        * Bicameral Congress
          * House of Representatives based on population and elected by people
          * Senate
            * 2 members from each state elected by state legislatures
        * All taxing and spending laws would start in the House of Representatives
      * ⅗ Compromise
        * Issue
          * How to count slaves for representation and taxation
        * Solution
          * Slaves counted as ⅗ of a person for both representation and taxes
  • Ratification
      * Process began September 1787
      * Constitution went into effect in June 1788 after 9 states ratified it
      * Rhode Island finally approved it in May 1790
  • Federalists
      * Supported ratification of the Constitution
      * Wanted a strong federal government
      * Mostly from cities and eastern coastal regions
      * Involved in trade
      * Wanted improved commerce
      * Biggest arguments for ratification
        * Avoid anarchy
        * Protect the nation
        * Solve problems in trade and commerce
  • Anti-Federalists
      * Opposed ratification
      * Feared a strong central government
      * Mostly inland farmers and laborers
      * Biggest arguments against Constitution
        * The meeting was in secret
        * Was extralegal
          * Didn’t do what they were supposed to do
          * They were supposed to improve the Articles of Confederation
        * It did not include the Bill of Rights