Section 2-Polling Question

1. Section 2-Polling Question • A • B • C In your experience, what is typically the best approach to use when faced with a disagreement? A.Hold your ground no matter what B.Attempt to reach a compromise C.Accept the decisions of the other side without argument

2. Chapter 7 A More Perfect Union (1777-1790) Section 2 Convention and Compromise

3. Essential Question Why is the Constitution a document of compromises? • Why is the Constitution a document of compromises?

4. Need For A Change • Many felt that the Articles of Confederation needed changed • The Articles were too weak to deal with the nation’s problems • After the war the US had a depression (economic activity slows and unemployment increases) • The money the government did have went to paying foreign debts, resulting in currency shortage

5. American Farmers • Suffered because they couldn’t sell their goods • In Massachusetts, paper money was almost useless • Lawmakers outlawed paper money in 1781 and forced people to pay debts and taxes in gold and silver money • This hurt farmers, they didn’t bring in gold or silver money • Farmers were unable to pay debts and lost their land • Many went to prison

6. The Farmers Take Action • 1786- angry farmers fought back • Led by Daniel Shays, they forced courts in Massachusetts to close so they could not take farmers land • January 1787- Shays led more than 1000 men toward the federal arsenal in Springfield, Massachusetts • Looking for guns and ammunition • The state militia ordered the advancing farmers to stop and then fired over their heads • The farmers did not stop

7. Shays’ Rebellion • The militia fired again, killing 4 farmers • Shays his followers scattered and the uprising was over • Shays’ Rebellion frightened many Americans • They worried that the government could not control unrest and prevent violence • George Washington wondered whether “mankind, when left to themselves, are unfit for their own government” • Thomas Jefferson- “A little rebellion, now and then, is a good thing”

8. The Issue of Slavery • The Revolutionary War brought attention to the contradiction between the battle for American liberty and the practice of slavery • 11 states (all except SC and Georgia) outlawed or heavily taxed the importation of enslaved people • In the North slavery was ending • Free African Americans still faced discrimination • States south of Pennsylvania clung to the institution of slavery • Southerners feared that their economy could not survive without it

9. More of The Issue of Slavery • Many slaveholders started freeing slaves after the war • Virginia passed a law that encouraged manumission (freeing of individual enslaved persons) • The slavery issue divided the American people

10. Reform of the Articles of Confederation • Two Americans that were active in the movement for a change were James Madison and Alexander Hamilton • September 1787- Hamilton called for a convention (meeting) in Philadelphia to discuss trade issues • Also discuss changes that need to be made for the Union • Washington agreed to come after hearing of Shays’ Rebellion • Others heard Washington was coming and saw the significance

11. The Philadelphia Meeting • Began in May 1787 • One of the hottest summers on record • 55 delegates • 3 under 30 and one (Ben Franklin) was over 80 • Many were well educated

12. More of the Philadelphia Meeting • Many people did work on the Constitution • Gouverneur Morris wrote the final draft of the Constitution • James Madison took notes and is called the “Father of the Constitution” • Madison was the author of the basic plan of government the Convention adopted

13. Organization • Washington was chosen to preside over the meetings • Each state would have one vote on all questions • Sessions were not open to the public

14. Section 2 • A • B • C • D Who presided over the meetings at the Constitutional Convention? A.John Hancock B.James Madison C.George Washington D.Benjamin Franklin

15. The Virginia Plan • Edmund Randolph proposed the creation of a strong national government • Randolph presented the Virginia Plan, which was largely the work of James Madison • Called for a 2 house (bicameral) legislature • A chief executive chosen by the legislature • And a court system • The members of the lower house of the legislature would be chosen by the people • Members of the upper house would be chosen by the lower house

16. More of the Virginia Plan • In both houses the number of representatives would be proportional to the population of each state • Virginia would have many more delegates the smaller states • Delegates from Delaware, New Jersey, and other smaller states objected • They wanted all states represented equally • June 15th, William Paterson of New Jersey presented an alternative plan

18. The New Jersey Plan • 1 house legislature, one vote for each state • Congress could set taxes and regulate trade • Congress would elect a weak executive branch consisting of more than one person • His plan was designed to amend (improve) the Articles

20. The Great Compromise • A committee was appointed to settle the dispute between large and small states • Roger Sherman came up with what is called the Great Compromise • Sherman proposed a 2 house (bicameral) legislature • Lower House (House of Representatives) would be based on population • Upper House (Senate) would give each state two members

21. Section 2 • A • B According to the Great Compromise, in which house would each state be represented by two members? A.The House of Representatives B.The Senate

22. The Three-Fifths Compromise • Southern states wanted enslaved people counted in their population • They wanted more members in the House of Representatives • Northerners objected because enslaved people were legally considered property • The committees solution is known as the Three-Fifths Compromise • Each enslaved person was counted as 3/5 of a free person for both taxation and representation

23. Slave Trade • Northern states wanted to ban the slave trade nation wide • Southern states objected • The solution was that Congress could not interfere with the slave trade until 1808

24. Bill of Rights • George Mason proposed a Bill of Rights • Some worried without a Bill of Rights the new nation might abuse its power • Most felt that the Constitution provided adequate protection of individual rights • Mason’s proposal was defeated

25. Approving the Constitution • Finished on September 17, 1787 delegates gathered to sign the document • Three refused to sign- Elbridge Gerry (Mass.), Edmund Randolph (VA.), and George Mason (GA.) • Gerry and Mason would not sign without a Bill of Rights • The approved draft of the Constitution was sent to the states for consideration • The approval process required 9 of the 13 states to be approved

26. Essential Question Why is the Constitution a document of compromises? Delegates had to compromise on issues such as power distribution, representation, and slavery • Why is the Constitution a document of compromises?

27. Shays's Rebellion forced courts to close so judges could not take away • tax money. • farmers' land. • smuggled goods. • criminals' homes.

28. The Revolutionary War brought into focus the contradiction between the American battle for liberty and the • need to raise money. • right to rebellion. • practice of slavery. • right for women to vote.

29. Constitutional Convention delegates voted for a national government based on the • New Jersey Plan. • Virginia Plan. • New York Plan. • Northwest Territory Plan.

30. Convention delegates broke the deadlock between large and small states when they approved • the Two-Thirds Compromise. • Washington's Compromise. • the Three-Fifths Compromise. • the Great Compromise.

31. Convention delegates agreed that the Constitution must be approved by how many states? • 3 states • all states • 12 states • 9 states