Problems under the Articles led to Conventions

Lead to state meetings and call for revision…

Mount Vernon Conference - 1785 Delegates met to discuss problems between

Maryland and Virginia over the use of the Potomac River

Common boundary – no one “owns”, no one can tax the other for its use

Annapolis Convention - 1786 Called to discuss other common problems

between states Only 5 states attended Called for a convention to be held the

following year in Philadelphia

The Constitutional Convention Where:

Philadelphia

When: 1787 (May – Sept.)

Original Purpose: To amend the Articles of Confederation

Philadelphia Convention – Who Attended? 55 delegates - 12 of 13 states Not Rhode Island G. Washington – “President” of the Convention

B. Franklin – Host to delegates

James Madison – “Father of the Constitution” kept notes and records

Alexander Hamilton – advocates strong central gov’t

Who was absent? Representatives of 90% of the population Thomas Jefferson John Adams Thomas Paine Patrick Henry Samuel Adams

Philadelphia Convention – What did they agree to do? Don’t amend the Articles – write a new plan! Secret debate and discussion ↑ powers of national government

Powers – to tax, to raise army, to regulate interstate and foreign commerce, sole power to coin money

Need 3 branches – legislative, executive & judicial

(What were the) Compromises (at the) Constitutional Convention?

How to establish representation in the national legislature? Virginia Plan

“Big” States Representation should

be proportional based on population of the state (bigger states get more representatives)

Representatives should be elected by the people

New Jersey Plan “Small” States Representation should

be equal by state (smaller states have the same power as the bigger states)

Representatives should be chosen by state legislatures

The Great (Connecticut) Compromise National Legislature will have 2 houses (bicameral) The House of Representatives will have the number

of representatives per state based on the population of the state – census every 10 years; representatives directly elected by the people

The Senate will have 2 representatives per state; Senators will be chosen by the state legislatures

(1913- changed by 17th Amendment)

Both the House and Senate must pass any bill so they have to learn to cooperate

How to count the slave population? Northern states

Don’t count the slaves for purposes of representation

Do count the slaves for taxation

Southern states Do count the slaves for

purposes of representation

Don’t count the slaves for taxation

3/5 Compromise Slaves would be counted as 3/5 of a person

for both representation and taxation South would get additional seats in the House

of Representatives based on a slave population that could not vote

But the South would have to pay additional taxes maybe discouraging a large number of slaves

“The cruelest part of the Constitution”

How to conduct trade and assess tariffs? North

Tax imports to keep out foreign competition & protect America’s “infant” industries

South Don’t tax exports

because it would make it difficult for American farmers to compete in European markets

Tariff Compromise Congress may tax imports but never may they

tax exports Reward “good” behavior (exporting);

discourage “bad” behavior (importing) Congress will not interfere with the slave

trade before 1808

How to Elect the President?(Democracy vs. Too Much Democracy)

Plan #1 – Directly elected by the People Plan #2 – Congress will select the President

(Parliamentary Democracy – like Britain)

Plan #3 – State Legislatures will select the President

The Electoral College Compromise Voters will elect electors representing a

candidate Electors will choose the President # of Electors = # of Reps in House + # of

Senators An indirect election by the people because the

founding fathers did not trust “the people” to make wise choices.( Where the Founding Fathers “elitists”…men of property?)

Electoral Votes – 2008 vs. 2012

To be elected President in 2008 A candidate will need a majority of the Electoral

votes – 270 of 538 It is possible for a candidate to win the popular vote

(people’s vote) but lose the Electoral vote 2000 – Al Gore/ George W. Bush (47.9%)

1824 – Andrew Jackson/ John Quincy Adams (30.9%)

1876 - Hayes (48%) / Tilden 1888 – Grover Cleveland/ Benjamin Harrison

(47.8%)

Ratification of the Constitution

Ratification: the process of making the Constitution official Constitutional requirement: 9 of 13 states need to approve it

Types of People Famous Leaders Stance

Federalists: Northern, urban James Madison wanted a strong national Alexander Hamilton gov't, in favor of John Jay Constitution

Anti-Federalists: Southern Thomas Jefferson wanted a weaker nationalSam Adams gov't, wanted to add a Patrick Henry Bill of Rights to the

Constitution

The Federalist Papers

A series of papers written in favor of the ConstitutionExamples:

#2 The Dangers from Foreign Force and Influence by John Jay

#8 Consequences of Hostility Between the States by Alexander Hamilton

#10 The Union as a Safeguard Against Domestic Faction and Insurrection by James Madison

#52 The House of Representatives by James Madison

RATIFICATION Anti- Federalists “win”… BILL OF RIGHTS added!