2. Constitutional Convention Philadelphia – May, 1787 55 delegates from 12 states Not Rhode Island Washington elected president Franklin, Madison, Hamilton also present Madison: Father of the Constitution
3. Constitutional Convention September 17, 1787: Constitution was signed by delegates 3 delegates refused to sign: Randolph and Mason from VA Elbridge Gerry from Mass.
4. Virginia Plan Edmund Randolph and James Madison created this plan Called for a strong central government 3 branches: Legislative: Pass laws Executive Carry out the laws Judicial System of courts (enforce laws)
5. Virginia Plan Legislative Branch: 2 houses, both had representation determined by population Both houses, the larger states had more representation
6. New Jersey Plan William Paterson from New Jersey created this plan 3 branches: Legislative, Executive, Judicial Legislative Branch: One house, all states have equal representation One vote per state, no matter how big
7. The Great Compromise Roger Sherman of Connecticut created this plan Compromise: A settlement that each side gives up some of its demands in order to reach an agreement 2 House Legislature: House of Representatives: Lower house Elected by popular vote Representation determined by population Appealed to larger states
8. The Great Compromise Senate: Upper house Chosen by state legislature Each state (no matter what size) gets 2 representatives Appealed to smaller states Approved July 1787
9. The 3/5ths Compromise Southerners wanted slaves counted in the population to determine representation in the House They would have a larger population, meaning more representatives, if the slaves were counted Northerners didn’t want this: Slaves don’t vote, therefore should not be represented by Congress Compromise: 3/5ths of the slaves in any state will be counted in the population for Representation 3,000 of 5,000
10. The Slave Trade Compromise Northern states wanted the slave trade to be banned in the whole nation By 1787, some northern states had banned the slave trade Southern states did not: They said it would ruin their economy Compromise: Congress count not outlaw slave trade for at least 20 years (1807) Could regulate trade as they wished after that Northerners agreed that no state could stop a slave from being returned to any owner that claimed the slave
