Creating the Constitution

1. Creating the Constitution Mr. Diaz CCMS Social Studies

2. Outline/Timeline • Annapolis Convention: “national trade laws” • Shays’ Rebellion: “The national government is too weak.” • Philadelphia becomes the Constitutional Convention: “Why do we need a new government.” • New and Improved Constitution: “3 branches” • Virginia vs. New Jersey Plan: “proportional or equal representation within the legislature.” • Roger Sherman’s Great Compromise: “legislature take- one part equal, one part proportional.” • Proportional Representation: “do slaves count?” • Three-Fifths Compromise: “60% of them do.”

3. I. Annapolis Convention: “we need national trade laws” • Under theArticles on Confederation the national government could not regulate trade. Regulate means to control by creating rules. • Delegates from five states met to discuss creating “national trade laws,” and sent their ideas to the states along with an invitation to meet in Philadelphia in June of 1787 to debate the issue.

4. Why was trade struggling under the Articles of Confederation? • Currency Problems: Under the Articles of Confederation, states printed their own money; thus, the national currency became almost worthless. • Trade Problems: States also placed tariffs on each other's goods. This, combined with currency problems, led to a sharp decline in commerce.

5. II. Shays’ Rebellion: “The national government is too weak.” • George Washington on Shays’ Rebellion : “The consequences of . . . [an] inefficient government are too obvious to be dwelt upon. Thirteen [governments] pulling against each other, and all tugging at the federal head, will soon bring ruin upon the whole . . .”

6. III. Philadelphia Meeting becomes a Constitutional Convention: “Why do we need a new government?” • In the wake of Shays’ Rebellion, most delegates agreed that the A. of C. were too weak; thus they called for a new government.

7. IV. New and Improved Constitution: “3 branches” • 1. Legislature Branch - to make laws • 2. Executive Branch - to enforce laws • 3. Judicial Branch - to evaluate laws

10. 3. Disagreement: How to divide the Legislature. • Virginia Plan wanted representation based on population and wealth; whereas, the New Jersey Plan wanted equal representation amongst all states. • Virginia Plan (two houses) vs. New Jersey Plan (one house)

12. V. Roger Sherman’s Great Compromise: “legislature cake- one part equal, one part proportional.” • Delegates argued over representation in the legislature for months; finally, the delegates selected a committee to work out a compromise. • Their final solution was called the Great Compromise , create a legislature with two “houses”. One house of the legislature would have proportional representation, the House of Representatives, and the other house would have equal representation, the Senate.

14. VI. Proportional Representation: “do slaves count? 60% of them do.” • The delegates reached what was called the 3/5ths Compromise, which said that 3/5ths of a states’ population would count towards: a. when setting direct taxes on the states b. representation in the legislature

15. Two Parties Emerge • Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson had opposing views on the role of the national government. That opposition resulted in the creation of two political parties. • The debate over the role of the national government has continued throughout United States history.

17. What should the Government do? • Major party differences • Alexander Hamilton • Leader of Federalists • Favored strong national government • Favored limits on states’ powers • Favored development of industry on a national scale • Favored a national bank • Thomas Jefferson • Leader of the Democratic Republicans • Favored a weak national government • Supported states’ powers • Favored small business and farmers • Opposed a national bank

18. America’s first leaders • Congress and the first five presidents made decisions establishing a strong government that helped the nation grow in size and power. • All of the first five presidents were Virginians except John Adams.

20. George Washington • Established first Federal court system. • Political parties grew out of the disagreements between Hamilton and Jefferson over the proper role of the national government. • The Bill of Rights was added to the Constitution of the United States of America. • Plans were initiated for development of the national capital in Washington, D.C. Benjamin Banneker, an African American astronomer and surveyor, helped complete the design for the city.

21. John Adams • A two-party system emerged during his administration.

22. Thomas Jefferson • He bought Louisiana from France (Louisiana Purchase). • Lewis and Clark explored this new land west of the Mississippi River.

23. James Madison • President during the War of l812 which caused European nations to gain respect for the United States.

24. James Monroe • He introduced the Monroe Doctrine warning European nations not to interfere in the Western Hemisphere.

25. Essential Questions • What were the basic weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation? • What were the basic principles of governments stated in the Constitution of the United States of America and Bill of Rights? • What were the major differences between Hamilton and Jefferson? • What were the major national issues and events faced by the first five presidents?