Constitutional Convention 1787

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Constitutional Convention1787

• Key attendees
• George Washington
• James Madison
• George Mason
• Alexander Hamilton
• Benjamin Franklin
• James Wilson
• Gouverneur Morris
• Edmund Randolph
• Roger Sherman
• Elbridge Gerry
• William Patterson

• Not attending
• Thomas Jefferson
• John Adams
• Patrick Henry
• John Hancock
• Samuel Adams
• Richard Henry Lee
• Rhode Island

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Philadelphia Convention

• May 1787
• 55 delegates
• Every state except RI
• From propertied class
• without being rich all are
  
  in easy circumstances
• -Fr. diplomat

• Nationalists ? wanted to strengthen the central
  government
• Elected George Washington as presiding officer
• Met in secret

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Virginia Plan

• Powerful national government
• Supremacy of national authority
• Rejected state sovereignty
• National govt could veto state laws
• National government would have direct authority
  over people
• Citizens would elect the lower house of national
  legislature
• Lower house representation based on population
• Lower house would then name the members of the
  upper house
• Both houses would then choose judiciary and
  executive

James Madison
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New Jersey Plan

• National govt could
• Raise revenue
• Control commerce
• Make binding requisitions on states
• Executive, appointed by Congress, of several
  individuals
• Judicial appointed by Executive
• Each state had one vote in a unicameral
  legislature
• States could control own laws

William Paterson
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Debate and Near Collapse

• After about two weeks of discussion
• Supported NJ Plan
• NJ, DE
• 1/2 of MD
• 2/3 of NY
• VA Plan still basis of discussion
• Key Questions
• How should representatives from each state be
  determined?
• What powers should the national govt have?
• Created committee to solve
• One delegate from each state

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Hammering Out a Bundle of Compromises

• After deciding to scrap the Articles of
  Confederation, what to do?
• Large State Plan vs. Small State Plan

Great Compromise
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Political Negotiation

• Great Compromise
• Upper house ? 2 delegates from each state
• Lower house ? based on population
• Federal Judicial System
• States had own courts and feared losing this
  power
• Convention left creation of system up to new
  national legislature
• Voting was not restricted to just property owners
• Upper house chosen by state legislatures
• President elected by an electoral college

States and their legislatures had some power
the people had more direct power acceptance of
reduction of state sovereignty?
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Compromises cont.

• Slavery
• 3/5 Compromise
• Slave trade would exist for at least 20 years
• Separation of Powers
• Federalism
• States and national government
• Branches of government
• Legislative
• Executive
• Judicial
• Electoral College

Constitutional Convention adjourned on
9/17/1787 -Constitution now had to be ratified
by voters
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Ratification

• Process to ratify the new Constitution ? Article
  VII

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Ratification of the Constitution

• Conducted in special conventions ? nine states
  and it would go into effect
• Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists
• United States vs. States United
• Federalist Papers written by Madison, Hamilton,
  and Jay
• 85 essays to gain support for republican
  political doctrine
• Ex. Explained checks and balances, benefits of
  large republic
• Bill of Rights promised to be added later
• MA, NY, VA
• Met 9 state requirement in 1788

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Controversy Over the Constitution

• When the Constitution was printed in the
  newspapers people were shocked
• Delegates created a NEW constitution
• Framers set up procedure they thought gave the
  Constitution the best chance to be ratified

Bypassed state legislatures
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Opposing Sides

• Federalists
• Supporters of the Constitution
• Liked balance of power between states and
  national govt
• Separation of power would protect against tyranny

• Antifederalists
• Opposed the new Constitution
• Lack of protection for individual rights

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Opposing Sides cont.

• Both sides tried to gain popular support

• Letter from the Federal Farmer
• Rights that needed more protection
• Speech, press, religion, trial by jury, searches,
  etc.

• The Federalist (Papers)
• 85 essays defending the Constitution
• 1787-1788 in NY

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Bill of Rights Key to Ratification

• Federalists promised to add a bill of rights if
  the Constitution was ratified

http//teachingamericanhistory.org/ratification/ma
p/?stateDelaware