Government Unit KUD

Constitutional ConventionPreview

Shay’s Rebellion- 1787

• Massachusetts- Crop prices dropped• Farmers became poor• Many Revolutionary War Heroes• Farms taken when loans were not paid• Farmers put in jail• Daniel Shays leads 2,000 farmers in rebellion• Farmers almost take over state• Rebellion ended by militia• Proved the Articles of Confederation needed to be

changed giving National Government more power• 14 sentenced to death- all but 2 pardoned including

Shays

Independence Hall- 1787

• Philadelphia

• Extremely hot summer- 100 degrees

• Kept meetings private

• Southerners more prepared for weather

• Met to make changes to the Articles of Confederation

Constitutional Convention

• 55 delegates from 12 states

• Delegates tended to be wealthy & educated

• George Washington elected chairman

• Ben Franklin- oldest (82 years)

• James Madison- Best prepared

• Madison recorded every debate and discussion

The United States Constitution

• 1st debate- Changes to Articles or something new?

• 3 Branches of Government• Legislative- Lawmaking branch made of

representatives from each state• 2nd debate- How many representatives

should each state get?• 3rd debate- Should slaves count in a

state’s population?• Many disagreements