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