Establishing the Republic

Opening phrase indicates the foundational principle of the Constitution that government derives its authority from the consent of the governed.

Differing ideological positions on federal government:
- Perspectives vary on the structure (centralized vs decentralized) and function (active government vs minimal intervention).
Continuities and changes post-Constitution ratification:
- Examination of the persistence in structures (like checks and balances) and shifts in functions (expanded federal powers).

Representation of claimed territories by various states post-Revolution, depicting territorial disputes and cessions of land.
- Notable areas include:
- Northwest Territory: claimed by various states, bringing with it multiple cessions (e.g., Virginia, Massachusetts).
- Cessions by Virginia in 1784, Massachusetts in 1785, and Connecticut in 1786 highlight shifting boundaries and state claims.
- Visual depiction with major rivers and landmarks (Mississippi River, Lake Superior, etc.).

Composition of the Constitutional Convention:
- Many delegates were troubled by weaknesses in the Articles of Confederation and instabilities in governance.
- Shay’s Rebellion served as an impetus for convening, demonstrating public discontent.
- Demographics: predominantly white males, average age in the early 40s, many wealthy, established landowners, lawyers, merchants, and a significant proportion were slave owners.
- Delegates were unauthorized to completely replace the Articles, focusing instead on amending them.

Core issues debated at the Convention:
- Sovereignty: discussions centered around whether power should reside in the states or the national government.
- Representation: key points on how states would be represented and taxed.
- Virginia Plan proposed a bicameral legislature with representation based on population, while the New Jersey Plan suggested a unicameral legislature with equal state votes.

Establishment of a bicameral legislature:
- House of Representatives apportioned by state population; Senators represent states equally.
- 3/5 Compromise: addressed the contentious issue of slavery in representation, stating that three-fifths of slaves would be counted for legislative representation.
- Executive powers consolidated under a single president selected by an Electoral College.
- Creation of a judicial branch to address legal appeals and interpretations.

The implications of the three-fifths compromise were profound:
- It politically empowered Southern states by counting enslaved individuals as part of the population.
- Article I, Section 9, Clause 5 prohibits taxes on exports to safeguard Southern economies.
- Provisions around the slave trade instituted a moratorium on discussions of slavery importation for 20 years.
- Fugitive slave clause (Article IV, Section 2, Clause 3) restricted the freedom of escaped slaves in other states.

Continued debates post-Convention:
- Several compromises, despite the initial success, left issues such as voting rights, citizenship definitions, and individual liberties inadequately addressed.
- Voting qualifications set at the state level; citizenship not definitively defined until after 1868 (14th Amendment).
- Liberties articulated indirectly through the Bill of Rights; notable opposition among delegates who either left the convention or withheld their signatures.
- Franklin’s comments reflect apprehension and pragmatic acceptance of the compromises formed.

Federalists:
- Advocated for the new Constitution, emphasizing the need for a strong central government to prevent chaos and disorder (feared majority rule).
- Supported a manufacturing economy.
Anti-Federalists:
- Opposed the Constitution favoring power influx into the federal structure.
- Advocated for state sovereignty and greater democracy, voicing concerns over individual rights potentially compromised by a strong national government.

Notable Federalist figures included:
- George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, James Madison.
- Organized efforts to promote the Constitution through The Federalist Papers, a series of 85 essays justifying the proposed government structure.
- Several state conventions called for a Bill of Rights prior to ratification.
- Delaware led as the first state to ratify; New Hampshire as the pivotal ninth; Rhode Island's ratification rounded out the states by 1790.