Constitution
Lesson 4A
Creating the Constitution
- windows closed, tense people, sworn to secrecy
May 25th – Sept. 17, 1787
A. Framers
- 12 of 13 states Æ no Rhode Island
- 74 delegates were chosen, 55 attended
1. People of all aspects – lawyers, businessmen, farmers
- many had fought in the Revolutionary War
- 8 had signed the Declaration of Independence
2. George Washington – took a leading role
3. James Madison wrote it all down – kept the notes
B. Organization & Procedure
1. Met in Independence Hall where the Dec. of Ind. was signed.
- adopted rules of procedure
- needed a majority on every proposal - 1 vote/state
- rule of secrecy – was actually kept very well
- kept a journal Æ William Jackson
- James Madison’s notes were more detailed
- Madison contributed the most to the Constitution
- all the delegates worked together.
C. Decided to write another NEW constitution
- supposed to just revise the Articles of Confed.
1. Edmund Randolph suggested starting over
-- representatives agreed!
2. Very bitter debates, the convention almost failed!!!
D. Virginia Plan
- VA reps set up a plan for the Const.
1. 3 branches of govt. - Legislative, Executive, Judicial
2. 2 house legislature Æ based on state’s population.
- House elected by the people
- Senate elected by the House
3. Congress had same powers as under the “Articles”
- can veto state laws if they conflict national law
4. Congress chooses Executive & Judiciary
- executive can veto acts of congress
- 2 houses can override veto
5. Congress can admit new states to the Union
6. National govt. should have expanded powers
-- can enforce laws.
Small States did not like the VA plan!
E. New Jersey Plan
1. Unicameral Legislature - each state is equal
2. Add power to tax and regulate trade to old powers
3. Team of executives
- chosen by congress
- removed by majority of state governors
4. Supreme Court is selected by executives
F. Connecticut Compromise
- states could not agree on which plan – many
reps threatened to leave.
- small states didn’t want to be dominated by large ones.
- Ben Franklin prayed that God would intervene!
1. Compromise – Connecticut suggested it
- 2 house legislature
- Senate Æ 2 reps/state
- House Æ population
- satisfied the dispute
- Reps called it the “Great Compromise!”