Making of the Constitution

1
Making of the Constitution

• 1787

2
State Standards

• SSUSH5 The student will explain specific events
  and key ideas that brought about the adoption and
  implementation of the United States Constitution
• B. Examine the major arguments of the
  anti-Federalists and Federalists during the
  debate on ratification of the Constitution as put
  forth in The Federalist Papers concerning form of
  government, factions, checks and balances, and
  the power of the executive, including the roles
  of Alexander Hamilton and James Madison.
• c. Explain the key features of the Constitution,
  specifically the Great Compromise, separation of
  powers (influence of Montesquieu), limited
  government, and the issue of slavery.

3
Constitutional Convention

• Constitutional Convention - from
  history.state.gov
• Please see the accompanying notes sheet.

4
Questions

• 1. What happened in the 1787 meeting in
  Philadelphia? (how many people showed up and
  what did they accomplish)
• 2. What was the New Jersey plan? Who created
  it?
• 3. What was the Virginia plan? Who created it?
• 4. What was the Great Compromise and what did it
  do?
• 5. What was the 3/5 Compromise and why was it
  created?

5
Constitutional convention

• May 1787 55 delegates representing 12 states come
  to Philadelphia to discuss weaknesses of the
  articles.
• Rhode Island refused to send delegates because
  they stated that anything more centrally
  organized would be just like the king.
• Philadelphia Convention - Wikipedia, the free
  encyclopedia

6
James Madison emerges

• James Madison one of the 12 delegates to attend
  the original convention.
• Studied world governments for an entire year in
  preparation for the convention.
• Most important man at the convention as he was
  most informed, but was shy and soft-spoken.
• George Washington (unanimously elected president
  of the convention) often defaulted to Madison on
  the bigger decisions.
• James Madison - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

7
Delegates have a decision to make

• 1. Reform the Articles
• 2. Keep the Articles
• 3. Get rid of Articles and start all over
• Choose choice 3 and a few plans emerge

8
Virginia Plan and New Jersey plan

• Philadelphia Convention - Wikipedia, the free
  encyclopedia
• Virginia Plan
• Proportional representation supported by large
  states
• Please find 3 facts about the VA. Plan in the
  book
• New Jersey plan
• Equal representation
• Please find 3 facts about the NJ plan in the book

9
Great Compromise occurs

• On July 17, 1787 it is proposed that a bicameral
  legislature become our government.
• 1 house proportional representation
• 1 house equal representation
• To appease southern states, the 3/5 compromise is
  enacted.
• Every 3 of 5 slaves counts towards the total
  population of the state.

10
House of reps EXAMPLE (not real s)

• 2010 USA population 300,000,000
• GA 3,000,000
• Georgia has 1 of total US population
• 435 x 1 4.3 Georgia would get 4 seats in the
  House of Representatives.
• 2020 census USA has 400,000,000
• Ga 40,000,000
• -Georgia has 10 of the total US population
• - 435 x 10 43 seats for GA in House of reps

11
Constitution becomes law

• To enact the Constitution, 9 of 13 states must
  vote it into law.
• Each state will hold separate votes and majority
  will rule.
• Federalists battle the anti-federalists.
• Federalists write the Federalist Papers -
  Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
• Constitution is voted upon on September 28, 1787
• By June 1788 Constitution becomes law

12
Why the federalist won

• 1. Articles didnt work
• 2. Coordinated at the national level
• 3. Unified around constitution
• 4. George Washington supports.

13
Questions

• 1. What order did the states ratify the
  constitution in? Why do you think the order
  happened as it did?
• 2. Who were major proponents of the
  constitution?
• 3. Who were major opponents of the Constitution?
• 4. How would life had changed for a normal
  everyday common man / woman living under the
  constitution as opposed to the Articles?