Transcript Constitutional Convention

Constitutional Convention
COW – Problems after Revolutionary War
• Where
– Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• When
– May 1787 – September 1787
• Who
– 55 delegates from 12 of the 13 states
• Rhode Island didn’t send anyone
• Why
– They met to fix the Articles of Confederation
• Instead, they created a new government
• How
– They met in secret
– No one was allowed to say what was
happening in the meetings
COW – Constitutional Convention
The windows were nailed shut even though
it was a very hot summer that year
Founding Fathers
• James Madison
– 4th President of the United States
– “Father of the Constitution”
• Wrote most of the constitution
• Took notes on what was happening during
the convention
Link to his notes
Founding Fathers
• George Washington
– Was in charge of the convention
• Benjamin Franklin
– A leader at the Convention
COW – Ben Franklin
Different Plans
• Virginia Plan (Charles Pinckney)
– National congress should have
power over the states
– Wanted an Executive and Judicial
Branch
– Wanted larger states to have more
power than smaller states
• More people = more votes
Different Plans
• New Jersey Plan (William Paterson)
– National congress should have power
over the states
– Wanted an Executive and Judicial
Branch
– Wanted each state to have equal power
• Each state = 2 votes
• Population size should not matter
Compromises
• The Great Compromise
– By Roger Sherman
– Created the Senate and House of
Representatives
– Made both big and small states happy
• 3/5 Compromise
– 3 out of every 5 slaves counted toward the
states population
– Congress chose not to do anything about
slavery at that time
Political Parties Begin
• Federalist
– Leader - Alexander Hamilton
– Wanted - Strong central government
• Antifederalist
– Leader - Thomas Jefferson
– Wanted - Weak central government
- Bill of Rights
COW – Big Head & Song
Ratifying the Constitution
• Ratify
– The act of giving official approval to a
formal document
• 8 states refused to ratify the constitution
until they were promised a Bill of Rights
– George Mason – Father of the Bill of Rights
• The constitution became the law on March
4,1789
• 9 out of the 13 states had to ratify it for the
constitution to be accepted
The Preamble
• Introduction to the Constitution
• Explain the goals and reasons for
writing the Constitution
We the people of the United States, in order to
form a more perfect union, establish justice,
insure domestic tranquility, provide for the
common defense, promote the general welfare,
and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves
and our posterity, do ordain and establish this
Constitution for the United States of America.
SHR
The Preamble
• Introduction to the Constitution
• Explain the goals and reasons for
writing the Constitution
We the people of the United States, in order to
make a better country, establish justice,
insure domestic tranquility, provide for the
common defense, promote the general welfare,
and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves
and our posterity, do ordain and establish this
Constitution for the United States of America.
SHR
The Preamble
• Introduction to the Constitution
• Explain the goals and reasons for
writing the Constitution
We the people of the United States, in order to
make a better country, establish fairness,
insure domestic tranquility, provide for the
common defense, promote the general welfare,
and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves
and our posterity, do ordain and establish this
Constitution for the United States of America.
SHR
The Preamble
• Introduction to the Constitution
• Explain the goals and reasons for
writing the Constitution
We the people of the United States, in order to
make a better country, establish fairness,
guarantee peace at home, provide for the
common defense, promote the general welfare,
and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves
and our posterity, do ordain and establish this
Constitution for the United States of America.
SHR
The Preamble
• Introduction to the Constitution
• Explain the goals and reasons for
writing the Constitution
We the people of the United States, in order to
make a better country, establish fairness,
guarantee peace at home, provide a military to
defend our country, promote the general welfare,
and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves
and our posterity, do ordain and establish this
Constitution for the United States of America.
SHR
The Preamble
• Introduction to the Constitution
• Explain the goals and reasons for
writing the Constitution
We the people of the United States, in order to
make a better country, establish fairness,
guarantee peace at home, provide a military to
defend our country, promote a better life for all,
and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves
and our posterity, do ordain and establish this
Constitution for the United States of America.
SHR
The Preamble
• Introduction to the Constitution
• Explain the goals and reasons for
writing the Constitution
We the people of the United States, in order to
make a better country, establish fairness,
guarantee peace at home, provide a military to
defend our country, promote a better life for all,
and give the blessings of freedom to ourselves
and our children, do ordain and establish this
Constitution for the United States of America.
The Preamble
• Introduction to the Constitution
• Explain the goals and reasons for
writing the Constitution
We the people of the United States, in order to
make a better country, establish fairness,
guarantee peace at home, provide a military to
defend our country, promote a better life for all,
and give the blessings of freedom to ourselves
and our children, do write and agree to this
Constitution for the United States of America.
SHR