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Writing a Nation’s Constitution

At first it was impossible for the states to live with a strong power now it was impossible to live without it.

Bell Work

1. Define compromise in your own words

2. What were 3 of the main things congress was debating at this time (use pgs. 115-121)?

3. What were the names and outcomes of 3 of the big decisions?

Answer the Questions…

1. Would the New World become only a new battlefield for 13 new little nations?

2. Had they risked their lives their fortunes and their sacred honor only to turn the continent into a sea of anarchy?

The Annapolis Meeting and Alexander Hamilton

Jan. 1786 all of the states invited to a meeting on commerce in Annapolis, Maryland

9 accepted the invitation only 12 men representing 5 colonies came

Alexander Hamilton rose up to explain the importance of government at this meeting, he would change history.

He was from the Virgin island, attended King’s College, and was a favorite advisor of Washington during the war.

The Philadelphia Convention- 1787 (creation of the

Constitution)

The States responded! 55 delegates from 12 states met in Independence hall in Philadelphia.

Rhode (Rogue) Island ignored the call

The call was vague but the men knew one thing. They had to reorganize the government to make life better in the colonies

A Federal or National Union?

Federal

Foedus- treaty (an agreement made by a sovereign nation)

An international association held together by fully sovereign states that make treaties with one another.

This would be much weaker than other nations. Why?

National

Something like the government of France or England

Required the sovereign states to give up some of their powers to a bigger government.

Strongly supported by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and Gouverneur Morris

Why was giving up powers difficult for the

states?1.Fear that this power would take all of the

power2.They were giving away power to something

that did not yet exist3.Headquarters would be far outside their state4.All of the colonies were different (especially in

size)5.People had to be satisfied with ½ a loaf

Leaders of the Convention and Compromise

George Washington: the chairman

Benjamin Franklin: 81 and more interested in talking than fighting

James Madison: dedicated to taking complete notes (everyone take note…he went down in history for it)

The leaders decided in advance to keep everything they said a secret, we do not have a record of the events. Why?

The Great Compromisethe matter of representation

The Virginia Plan

Drawn up by James Madison and presented by Edmund Randolph

Two houses of Congress and in each one representation was based on population

The New Jersey Plan

Drawn up by William Patterson

Pleased small states

One house where each states gets just one vote

The Connecticut Compromise

Drawn up by Roger Sherman & Oliver Ellsworth

Divide congress into two houses

Senate: each state regardless of size has one vote

House of Representatives: each member represents an amount of people

The 3/5 Compromise

In southern states where slaves were treated like property people wanted them to count as people to help with representation.

If one kind of property gets representation shouldn't’t all?

Slavery and taxation were then linked. If all slaves were counted for representation than they all had to be counted for taxation.

The southern states gave in. 3/5 of their slaves would count towards representation and taxation.

The Commercial Compromise

Northern States: wanted to prohibit the slave trade and give the central government power to regulate commerce

The south feared that export taxes would be placed on their goods.

1. Slave trade could not be prohibited for 20 years

2. Congress could regulate commerce but never levy taxes on exports

Your HW

Read pages 121-124 and write 10 key terms

Bell Work

Get out your HW

Define in your own words: 1. Bypassing

2.Unanimous

3.Federalists

4. Anti-Federalists

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The States RatifyIt wasn’t enough to draft the document, they had to

get it approved

Bypassing the States

The Constitution was sent to state constitutional conventions for approval.

Would show that the people agreed to it.

Required only 9 states to approve it (not all 13!)

The Fight for Approval

Federalists: Supported the Constitution

Anti-Federalists: Were against the Constitution and the Federalists. Were very against the lack of a Bill of Rights.

Both sides used propaganda to spread their opinions. The most famous are called The Federalist Papers

Massachusetts, A Key State

John Hancock decided to go to the Federalist side.

The Federalists won (187-168) in MA as long as an amendment with a bill of rights was added.

This set a precedent for states to approve with amendments.

Virginia and NY Seal the Victory

By this time 9 states had approved and the Government could technically go into action.

Realistically Virginia and New York were needed. Why?

New York was finally persuaded by The Federalist Papers and Virginia voting yes.

The Vote went through (30/27)

The Federalist Papers

Essays written by James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay

Remain the statement of why freedom loving people need a strong central government

The Last States to Ratify

North Carolina (1789)

Rhode Island (1790)

Clip!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UxtbSt0HCNA

A Government Skeleton

1. Why has the federal constitution had such a long and successful life?

2. How has such a short document written over two centuries ago for 13 struggling colonies been able to give strength and liberty to a vast, two ocean nation of over 250 million people?