Making a ConstitutionChapter 5 Section 2

• Understand the reasons leaders called for the Constitutional Convention.

• Summarize the rival plans of government proposed at the convention.

• Describe the compromises made in order to reach agreement on the Constitution.

Objectives

Articles Of Confederation were flawed and needed at least two major changes

In May, delegates from 12 states met in Philadelphia to propose Amendments to the Articles.

• The power to regulate interstate and international commerce

• The power to tax

Fifty-three of the nation’s top leaders met at the Pennsylvania State House.

• Most helped to write their state constitutions

• Most were rich

• All were white males

• Twenty-one fought in the Revolution

• Eight were signers of theDeclaration of Independence The Pennsylvania State

House, now known as Independence Hall

•Not present: Thomas Jefferson and John Adams. They were serving as diplomats in Europe

•George Washington was chosen as president of the Convention.

Leaders present

Who came?

James Madison

Roger Sherman

George Mason

Elbridge Gerry

William Paterson

James Wilson

John Dickinson

Charles Pinckney

Benjamin Franklin

Alexander Hamilton

Edmund Randolph

Gouverneur Morris

Alexander Hamilton advocated for a powerful central government.

Ben Franklin contributed experience, wisdom, and prestige.

James Madison, called the Father of the Constitution, already had a plan of government in mind.

George Washington, called the Father of our country, attracted crowds when he arrived in Philadelphia.

Framers of the Constitution

Hamilton and Madison emerged as leaders.

Alexander Hamilton

•Conservative; he feared too much democracy

• Favored a balance of aristocracy, monarchy, and republicanism

James Madison

• Favored a large republic with diverse interests to preserve the common good

• Favored a system where different interests would check each other’s power to ensure liberty

•A strong federal government with power to tax, regulate commerce, and veto state laws

•A Senate and a House of Representatives (bicameral), both based on population

•A strong President to command the military and manage foreign relations

James Madison proposed his Virginia Plan.

•An executive by committee rather than one leader

•A unicameral legislature with one vote per state regardless of population

• States retain sovereignty except for a few powers granted to the federal government

William Patterson proposed the New Jersey Plan.

Larger states favored the Virginia Plan, while smaller states favored the New Jersey plan.

Roger Sherman proposed the Great Compromise to break the impasse.

Two Houses in Congress

•The lower house (House of Representatives) was based on a state’s population

•Upper house, (Senate) each state had two senators.

•Southern states feared larger free states would dominate Congress and threaten slavery.

•They saw slavery as essential for their economy and demanded protections in the Constitution.

•Delegates from Georgia and South Carolina threatened to walk out.

Slavery proved to be a divisive issue.

•A slave counted as three-fifths of a person in determining representation in Congress and electoral votes for presidential elections.

• Importation of slaves could not be forbidden for 20 years.

•Northern states could not pass laws to help runaway slaves.

Solution:

Three-fifths Compromise

Thirty-nine delegates signed, and the Constitution was sent to the states for ratification.

On September 17, forty-two delegates remained at the convention.

Franklin urged all delegates to unite in support of the new constitution.

Hamilton accepted the Constitution as the only alternative to “anarchy and convulsion.”