Second Revision

1. The
Constitutional
Convention
Chapter 2, Sec. 4

2. The Pennsylvania Gazette
ILLUSTRATED WEEKLY NEWSPAPER
Est. 1754 September 1786 Priceless
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION!
Shays' .George Annapolis
Rebellion: Washington: Convention:
A Weak Back to Attack Onward to
Since 1785, former
Government. President Philadelphia!
After an economic Washington has been ..Although all 13
depression hit acting as a liaison colonies were invited to
Massachusetts Farmer’s between attend, only delegates
hard, the State Supreme representatives of from five states
Court refused to issue an Maryland and his attended. Among the
injunction against the home state of delegates was Alexander
foreclosures on the Virginia. Differences Hamilton of New
farms. 1200 angry over York, who convinced
men, under the direction currencies, import the convention that
of former Revolutionary duties, and nothing short of a new
War captain, Daniel navigation were design for government
Shays, advanced on the among the most was needed. It was
federal arsenal. While contentious. As a decided to meet at
the uprising was result of these Independence Hall in
eventually quelled, the meetings, it was Philadelphia in May
need for a stronger decided that ALL 13 1787.
central government was colonies should meet
not. in Annapolis to Source: http://www.cqpress.com/incontext/constitution/docs/constitutional_law.html
discuss these

3. Independence Hall
Philadelphia

4. Who’s Who at the Convention?
• All states EXCEPT… Rhode Island
• Only 55 of the 74 delegates attended
• 7 were former governors
• 39 served in the Confederation Congress
• 8 signed the Declaration of
Independence
• 6 signed the Articles of Confederation

5. George
Washington
was chosen
as the
convention’s
president.

6. He is called
the “Father
of the
Constitution”
because the
basic plan for
government
James Madison
was his idea. fourth President of the United States
(1809–1817)

7. Gouverneur
Morris
wrote the
final draft of
the
Constitution.
Handmade oil painting reproduction of
Portrait Gouverneur Morris (1752-1816),
a painting by Alonzo Chappel.

8. Benjamin Franklin
(age 81) took an
active lead in
debates.

9. Rules
Each state
would have
one vote on
all questions.

10. Rules
Seven of
thirteen
states must
be present for
a meeting.

11. Rules
All actions
required a
simple
majority of
all states
present.

12. Rules
Secret
debates and
meetings –
no press or
public
allowed.

13. CONSENSUS on basic issues:
• Limited government
• Representative government
• Separation of powers(three branches)
• Limit states rights to coin money
• Strengthen the national government

14. Source: http://www.cyberlearning-world.com/nhhs/amrev/comptoon.jpg

15. VIRGINIA PLAN NEW JERSEY PLAN
GREAT COMPROMISE

16. - Three (3) branches of government:
legislative, judicial, and strong
executive
- bicameral legislature = lower house
elected by the people, upper house
picked by the lower house
- favored large states

17. NEW JERSEY PLAN
- a weak executive
= executive could
appoint national judiciary
- keep the unicameral legislature
= one vote for each state
= congress could collect
taxes and regulate trade
- favored small states

19. A bicameral legislature!
House of Senate
Representatives

20. LOWER HOUSE UPPER HOUSE
House of  Senate
Representatives
 two votes per
based on state (equal)
population

21. ONE executive leader!
(judges picked by Executive)

22. Other COMPROMISES
The Three-Fifths Compromise
Each slave counted as 3/5 of a person
OR
5 slaves equal 3 people!
3/5 + 3/5 + 3/5 + 3/5 + 3/5 = 15/5 = 3

23. Other COMPROMISES:
Commerce and Slave Trade
Compromise
agreed not to ban the slave trade
until 1808 and forbid Congress
from imposing export taxes

24. Compromise
on Slavery?
- The Northern states were
outlawing slavery.
- The Southern states would
never agree to the
Constitution if it were
outlawed!

25. RATIFICATION
Federalists Anti-Federalists
(FOR) (AGAINST)
- mainly merchants - mainly farmers
and laborers
and others in the
cities and coastal
regions - feared a strong
national
government
- argued that without
a strong national
government, anarch - Lacked a “Bill
y would occur of Rights”

26. Our New Government
March 4, 1789
- Federal Hall, New York City, temporary capital
- 22 senators and 59 representatives elected
April 30, 1789
- George Washington, took oath as first
president
- John Adams, elected vice-president

27. The Constitutional Convention
established a form of government that
was strong, yet flexible enough to last
through 240 years of growth.