The Road to the Constitution

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The Road to the Constitution
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The Articles One Achievement

• The Articles were weak and inefficient, but under
  their guidance one beneficial action occurred
  The Northwest Ordinance of 1787
• This dealt with how Americas western lands would
  be divided and governed
• The Ordinance forbade slavery in the Northwest
  territory and allowed it to be divided into no
  less than three and no more than five territories
• When population reached 60,000 the territory
  could write a state constitution and apply for
  admission as a state.

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Philadelphia, May 1787

• 55 delegates meet to address the weaknesses of
  the Articles of Confederation
• Madison had arrived early, armed with his vision
  the Virginia Plan
• This plan suggested a federal government a
  union that divided powers between a strong
  national government and the states. It consisted
  of an executive, judiciary and two-house
  legislature with number of members determined by
  population.

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Federal Hall
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James Madison

• He is referred to as the Father of the
  Constitution
• He recorded every word that was spoken during the
  convention

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Determining the Balance

• The greatest issue to be determined was the
  balance of government between the national, or
  central, and the individual states.
• Many still feared a strong government would
  become abusive

• Others feared anarchy, like Shays Rebellion if
  the national government did not gain more
  authority

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Various Plans

• Many delegates were shocked by Madisons Virginia
  Plan many wanted to amend the Articles of
  Confederation, not throw them out
• The Virginia Plan passed but the small states
  were unhappy about the legislature
• Roger Sherman of Connecticut to the rescue THE
  GREAT COMPROMISE the House of Representatives
  based on population and the Senate based on
  equality two per state.

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North/South Compromises

• The next issue, that threatened to split and end
  the Convention was slavery.
• How should slaves be counted for representation/
• South- wanted them to count as people to increase
  their number of Congressmen

• North- do not count slaves at all since they were
  treated as property.
• Three-Fifths Compromise- each slave would count
  as 3/5 a person in determining House
  representation and direct taxes.

Many hated slavery but South Carolina and Georgia
would not have joined without it!
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Slavery Continued

• Next, the delegates addressed the slave trade
• The Prohibition of slave imports would be delayed
  until 1807.
• The delegates wanted this to be a living document
  for the ages the word slave is never used in
  the Constitution

Gouverneur Morris wanted to give Blacks the
right to vote.
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Legislative Debate

• Who should elect the representatives
• Many believed, like Hamilton, the people were too
  uneducated and easily influenced to do this
• Others, like Madison, believed that a free
  government must flow from the people
• The Compromise- House of Representatives elected
  directly by the people and the Senate would be
  elected by the state legislatures.
• (in 1913 the 17th Amendment provided for the
  direct election of Senators)

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Executive Debate

• While many feared it, they knew they had to have
  a strong president
• Who should elect this powerful ruler?
• Again, the arguments ensued
• The Compromise- the president would be elected
  indirectly by the people through the Electoral
  College
• Candidate with most votes president, second
  place V.P.

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The Convention Ends

• 42 delegated remained by August, 1787
• Many debates had ensued, but compromise prevailed
• 39 signed the document (Mason refused because of
  lack of Bill of Rights)
• Article VII The ratification of the Conventions
  of nine states shall be sufficient for the
  establishment of this Constitution between the
  states so ratifying the same.
• New Hampshire was the 9th state June 21, 1788
• Constitution now supreme law of the land

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Federalists v. Anti-Federalists

• Federalists supported the Constitution and wanted
  a strong national government

• Anti-Federalists- opposed the Constitution
  because it lacked a Bill of Rights many saw
  these as their protection against government
  interference

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Federalist Papers

• Penned by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay and James
  Madison under the name of Publius, these were a
  series of 85 essays, printed in newspapers,
  explaining the Constitution and trying to
  convince people to ratify the Constitution.
• It worked!

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Bill of Rights

• The addition of a Bill of Rights was promised
  through an amendment to be added to the
  Constitution if it was ratified
• The Bill of Rights, the first ten amendments to
  the Constitution, was added in 1791.

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What did they Ratify?

• A federal government- a government that shares
  powers between the national and state governments
• Three branches Legislative (laws), Executive
  (executes laws) and Judicial (interprets laws)
• Each branch has its separate powers
• System of checks and balances each branch can
  check the other two in order to keep any branch
  from assuming too much power.