REVIEW QUESTION

What were the key weaknesses of the Articles

of Confederation?

THE CONSTITUTI

ONAL CONVENTIO

N

Fast Facts• began on May 25, 1787 • held at Independence Hall in

Philadelphia, PA• 55 delegates attended• goal was to improve Articles of

Confederation• RI was the only state that did not

participate

Leaders of the Convention• George Washington was asked to

preside over (lead) the convention• James Madison kept notes of the

discussions, often called “The Father of the Constitution”

• The men who wrote the Constitution are called the “Founding Fathers”

• All the participants in the Convention were wealthy, white, males

Key Issues• Representation in Congress: New

Jersey Plan versus Virginia Plan• Slavery: Northern States versus

Southern States• Federalists versus Anti-Federalists

Representation in Congress:

The New Jersey Plan• William Paterson• One house Congress• 1 vote per state• Benefits states with small population

Representation in Congress:

The Virginia Plan• Edmond Randolph• 2 house legislature• Representation based on population• Benefits states with larger population

Critical Thinking QuestionWorking in pairs, each person should

assume one of the two stances on how states should be represented in Congress. Work together to come up with a compromise that both sides can agree on. You will share your

solution with the class, and then we’ll compare our ideas with those that

our Founding Fathers came up with.

Representation in Congress: The Great

Compromise• Roger Sherman• 2 house legislature• Senate: equal amongst states• House of Representatives: based on

population of state

Slavery:The Northern States

• Slaves were not citizens and should not be counted towards population

• Wants to prohibit slaves in the entire nation

Slavery:The Southern States• Wanted slaves to count towards

population• Slaves were not to be given rights• Slavery is essential to the Southern

economy

Critical Thinking QuestionWorking in pairs, each person should

assume one of the two stances on how slavery should be dealt with in the Constitution. Work together to come up with a compromise that both sides can agree on. You will

share your solution with the class, and then we’ll compare our ideas

with those that our Founding Fathers came up with.

Slavery: The 3/5 Compromise

• For every 5 slaves, 3 were to count towards the population of the state

Slavery: The Commerce and

Slave Trade Compromise

• Keep slavery for 20 years • In 1808 Congress can vote to ban

slavery

Federalists• Articles of Confederation were weak and

ineffective• National government needed to be strong in

order to function• Strong national government needed to

control uncooperative states• Men of experience and talent should govern

the nation• National government would protect the

rights of the people

Anti-Federalists• Articles of Confederation were a good plan• Opposed strong central government• Strong national government threatened state

power• Strong national government threatened rights of

the common people• Constitution favored wealthy men and preserved

their power• Constitution lacked a bill of rights

Conclusion• Constitution signed on September

17, 1787• Continental Congress passes

resolution to put new Constitution into operation on September 13, 1788

• RI final state to ratify the constitution in May 1790