Creating the ConstitutionChapter 8, Section 2

The Call for a Constitutional Convention

In September 1786, delegates from five states met in Annapolis, Maryland to discuss ways of amending the Articles of Confederation.

The national government had been granted very little power.

Alexander Hamilton called for a convention in Philadelphia the following May.

Constitutional Convention Convention opened on May 25th,

1787.

First order of business was to nominate a president for the convention. • Every delegate voted for the hero of the

Revolution, George Washington.

Pressured by politics of the day, the discussions at the convention remained secret.• Much of what we know today come from

the detailed notes of the proceedings kept by James Madison.

Who Was There? 55 delegates from every state except

Rhode Island. Many delegates were members of

their state legislatures. Became known as the Founders, or

Founding Fathers, of the United States.

Who Was Missing? Thomas Jefferson and John Adams were overseas

at their diplomatic posts.

They wrote home to encourage the delegates.

Patrick Henry, a delegate elected from Virginia, refused to go. He “smelled a rat… tending toward monarchy.”

Others missing from the convention:• 1. Native Americans• 2. African Americans• 3. Women

Challenges of the Convention

States disagreed over what type of government to create.

Two Plans emerged:• 1. Virginia Plan- Drawn up James Madison

and Edmund Randolph of Virginia.• 2. New Jersey Plan- Drawn up by William

Paterson of New Jersey.

Virginia Plan vs. New Jersey Plan

The Great Compromise Proposed by Roger Sherman

of Connecticut.

2 house legislature:• House of Representatives =

based on state population.• Senate = each state - 2 senators.

July 16, 1787 – the Great Compromise was approved.

Challenges Over Slavery As the House of Representatives was

based on each states population, the Southern states wanted slaves to be counted.

Northern states disagreed; since slaves could not vote, they should not be counted.

The Three-Fifths Compromise

Delegates reached an agreement regarding slaves.

3/5 of he slave population would be counted for:• 1. Representation in the

legislature.• 2. Taxation.

In other words, a slave counted as 3/5 of a person.

The Slave Trade Northern states – slavery should be

illegal! Southern states – our economies

depend on slavery! Northerners agreed that Congress

would not outlaw the slave trade for at least 20 years.

After that, Congress could regulate the slave trade if it wished.

Passing of the Constitution September 17, 1787 – Constitution

was completed. 39 of the 42 delegates signed (3

delegates refused to sign; they felt the Constitution gave too much power to the national government).

9 of 13 states had to approve (ratify) the Constitution for it to go into effect.