The Constitution

1. By Neil Hammond, Millbrook High School The Constitution

2. The Articles of Confederation

3. The Articles of Confederation

4. Go over Shays’s Rebellion sheet The Articles of Confederation:Postwar Concerns

5. Money questions—debts, taxes, and tariffs—dominated the postwar political agenda. Those political leaders who had served the Confederation as military officers, officials, and diplomats looked at these problems from a national perspective and became advocates of a stronger central government. George Washington, Robert Morris, Benjamin Franklin, John Jay, and John Adams demanded that the states give Congress the power to control foreign commerce and impose tariffs. However, most state legislators wanted to manage their own affairs. The Articles of Confederation:Postwar Concerns

6. In 1786, James Madison and other nationalists persuaded the Virginia legislature to invite all the states to a convention to discuss tariff and taxation policies. Only five state governments sent delegates to the meeting, which took place in Annapolis, Maryland. Ignoring their small number, the delegates called for another meeting in Philadelphia to undertake a broad review of the Confederation. Spurred on by Shays's Rebellion, nationalists in Congress secured a resolution calling for a revision of the Articles of Confederation and endorsing the Philadelphia convention. The Articles of Confederation:The Annapolis and Philadelphia Conventions

7. In May 1787, fifty-five delegates arrived in Philadelphia. They came from every state except Rhode Island, where the legislature opposed any increase in central authority. Most of the delegates were men of property: merchants, slaveholding planters, or “monied men.” There were no artisans, backcountry settlers, or tenants, and there was only a single yeoman farmer. The Philadelphia Convention

8. Every state chose reps except RI These leaders were appointed by state legislatures Select group of propertied men 55 men from 12 states finally started to meet at Phila in May 1787 Intimate setting Sessions held in complete secrecy “Demigods” in the words of TJ GW appointed chairman of the convention James Madison – “Father of the Constitution” Alexander Hamilton – advocated a strong national govt. A Convention of Demi-Gods

9. 55 delegates Conservative, well-off, lawyers, merchants, shippers 19/55 owned slaves Young…nationalists Believed in Republicanism, but sought to protect the Republic from its weaknesses abroad and excesses at home Delegates also determined to “curb unrestrained democracy” Patriots in Philadelphia

10. The CC made a quick decision to completely SCRAP the Articles…overthrowing the govt. by peaceful means Virginia Plan (Large State Plan) James Madison proposed it Three branches (Executive, Legislative, Judicial) Bicameral Legislature based on population A state’s representation in BOTH houses would be based on HOW many people lived in the state New Jersey Plan (Small State Plan) Unicameral Congress Equal representation for all states The Articles on Steroids! States would be given the right to tax and the right to regulate trade Hammering Out a Bundle of Compromises

11. The delegates voted and chose the VA Plan But there were several issues Hammering Out a Bundle of Compromises

12. Issue 1 How would representation be figured out in Congress Large states wanted it based on population Small states wanted equal representation Hammering Out a Bundle of Compromises

13. Great Compromise House of Representatives = population Senate = equal representation for all states The Great Compromise saved the day because it looked like the Convention was deadlocked Hammering Out a Bundle of Compromises

14. Issue 2 How would the USA count slaves? Hammering Out a Bundle of Compromises

15. 3/5 Compromise Every five slaves would only count as three for both representation purposes and taxation purposes Hammering Out a Bundle of Compromises

16. Issue 3 How much power should the people have when choosing a president? Hammering Out a Bundle of Compromises

17. Hammering Out a Bundle of Compromises • Answer = the Electoral College Compromise • Voters would choose ELECTORS who would vote for the president

18. Issue 4 Should the slave trade be abolished? Slave Trade Compromise

19. Slave Trade Compromise…slave trade will be legal until 1808 at which point Congress could ban the slave trade. Slave Trade Compromise

20. Was the constitution written by rich, white men to protect their interests? Or...is the constitution an incredible document that has stood the test of time, a document produced by great men Beard’s Thesis versus the traditional view

21. Democratic Elements Two great pillars of Republicanism: 1) legitimate power derives from the people 2) Powers of government should be limited (in this case by the Constitution) September 17, 1878 – 42 delegates remained to sign the constitution 3 refused No one was entirely happy Safeguards for Conservatism

23. Under the Articles, a change required all thirteen states to vote “yes” The Founding Fathers moved the goalposts, requiring nine states to approve (by calling specially elected conventions) “This was extraordinary, even revolutionary. It was in effect an appeal over the heads of Congress…to the people The Clash of Federalists and Anti

24. The American people were astonished and one of the greatest debates in American history erupted (Federalists v Anti-federalists) Anti-federalists Samuel Adams, Patrick Henry, Richard Henry lee States’ rights advocates, backcountry dwellers Poorer folks, debtors Federalists Power and influence on their side (Washington, Franklin) East vs. West Better educated, more organized, controlled the press The Clash of Federalists and Anti-Federalists

25. The Struggle for Ratification

26. Arguments (Anti-Federalists) Drawn up by aristocrats; therefore, not democratic Sovereignty of the states jeopardized (no bill of rights) They decried dropping annual elections for representatives Creation of standing army Omission of any reference to God Questionable ratifying process (2/3 needed) The Clash of Federalists and Anti-Federalists

27. Special elections held in the states for members of ratifying conventions Four small states quickly ratified…PA the first big state to ratify, but not without irregularities MA proved to be an acid test The initial MA convention contained an anti-federalist majority Some talk of summoning ANOTHER constitutional convention Alarm at lack of bill of rights Federalist assurances secured a narrow margin of ratification 187 to 168 Three more states took the total to 9 The Great Debate in the States

28. Virginia…tough debate but ratification 89 to 79 New York – uphill struggle Elected an anti-federalist state convention Alexander Hamilton, John Jay and James Madison penned a masterly series of articles for the New York newspapers, The Federalist Papers NY finally ratified…NC and RI did not initially…independent minded to the end No violence, but passion Last four states ratified because they HAD to…they could not realistically prosper outside the group The Four Laggard States

29. The minority had triumphed…TWICE 1) A minority had engineered a peaceful revolution that had thrown out the old Articles 2) Only about ¼ of the population had voted Conservative…but redefined popular sovereignty Antifeds believed that the sovereignty of the people rested in JUST the legislature Feds contended that every branch represented the people Self-limiting checks and balances Elevated ideals or Revolution while setting boundaries for them A Conservative Triumph