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Rocky Road to the Constitution

Rocky Road to the Constitution. EQ: What compromises emerged from the Constitutional Convention?. Articles of Confederation Quiz. What was the purpose of the Articles of Confederation? Under the Articles what powers did the national government have ? List at least 3

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Rocky Road to the Constitution

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  1. Rocky Road to the Constitution EQ: What compromises emerged from the Constitutional Convention?

  2. Articles of Confederation Quiz • What was the purpose of the Articles of Confederation? • Under the Articles what powers did the national government have? List at least 3 • Under the Articles what powers did the national government not have? List at least 3 • Why was a convention called?

  3. Articles of Confederation • 1st plan of the U.S gov’t-cooperated for common purpose/each state=1 vote • Good: make war/peace, raise an army & navy, print $, set up postal system • Bad: Couldn’t raise taxes, enforce laws • Success: NW Land Ordinance • W lands divided into 6 mile sq’s-townships, once there was 60k apply for statehood • Failure: $ Problems, $ printed during war was pointless, no gold or silver • Shay’s Rebellion: Farmer Daniel Shay and followers closed down courthouse • CALL For Convention Fear of Shay’s rebellion and revise A of C

  4. Convention • Delegates: 55 white men from 12 states (R.I boycotted). Men were “well-bred, well-fed, well-read, and well-wed” • 2/3 were lawyers and 1/3 owned slaves • Father of Convention: James Madison took over 600 pages of notes. Studied ancient and modern gov’t • Secrecy: Very Serious no one outside knew what was going on • Committed to Ideals of D.O.I: Basic purpose of gov’t was to protect life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness • Power of Gov’t came from who? • Republic- a country governed by elected representatives • State Constitutions embraced republican ideals • Biggest Concern: HOW powerful should the gov’t be? • TOO STRONG= LOSS OF INDIVIDUAL LIBERTY • TOO WEAK=CANNOT PROTECT LIBERTY & PROPERTY

  5. Issue #1-How should the states be represented in the new government? • GOAL: REVISE ARTICLES • Virginia delegation New plan: • THROW OUT ARTICLES Create a Constitution • Virginia Plan: Called for a strong nat’lgov’t with 3 parts 1. Legislative Branch w/2 houses-Makes laws -# of lawmakers states sent to Congress depended on states population (more people=more reps) 2. Executive Branch-carry out laws 3. Judicial Branch-enforce laws • Who does this proposal benefit?

  6. Issue #1-How should the states be represented in the new government? • New Jersey Plan: Small states disliked the Virginia plan!!!! • William Patterson of N.J New Plan • Called for a gov’t w/3 branches • Legislative Branch have 1 House (not 2) • Each state has equal votes regardless of size • Kept the small states from being swallowed up by large states

  7. GREAT COMPROMISE • Roger Sherman of Connecticut came up with a plan that saved the convention • 2 Houses of Congress!!! • House of Representatives represent people based on population • Senate represents the states, each states has 2 senators

  8. Issue #2-How would slaves be counted? • Question: Are slaves people or property? • 9/10 of slaves live in the South wanted slaves to count as people • North: Slaves = Property, argued if they count as people let them free!!! • Resolution: 3/5 Compromise (James Madison) • Slaves would be counted as 3/5 a person when determining population • Violation of D.O.I? • Congress got power to control trade South nervous about taxes on exports/slave trade • Compromise=no taxes on exports and Congress couldn’t interfere with slave trade for 20yrs • Fugitive Slave Clause-Escaped slaves had to be returned to owners

  9. Issue #3-How should the Chief Executive be elected? • 1 executive or 3??? • Congress agreed on 1 executive =President, 4 year term, and has a VP • How to choose the executive=People or Congress? • Resolution=ELECTORAL COLLEGE!!! • Took 60 votes!!! • Special body that elects gov’t leaders

  10. Resolution=ELECTORAL COLLEGE!!! • Made up of electors who cast vote for president every 4 years • Same # of electors in electoral college as there are in congress • Originally voted for 2 cadidates w/o saying who was for Pres/VP, most votes became Pres. • Problems with the electoral college? 2000 election

  11. Convention Ends • Needed 9 states to ratify, but who should ratify? • Ratify: to approve a plan or agreement • Thought the people were the “fountain of all power” • Had a special convention to ratify Constitution-Delegates were elected by the people • September 17, 1787: Constitution complete, printed in every newspaper • Plan created a federal system of gov’t: Where a strong nat’lgov’t shares powers with the states

  12. Federalists/Anti-Federalists Federalist Anti-federalist Opposed the Constitution Felt Congress would ruin the country w/taxes Didn’t list the rights of people Saw the president as a king Judicial Branch would swallow up state courts • Supported the Constitution • James Madison, Alexander Hamilton • Believed in a strong nat’lgov’t feared freedom would be threatened and rights would be taken away • Federalists Papers: Newspaper essays, recalled the weaknesses of gov’t under the Articles

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