The Constitutional Convention:
Out with the Old,
In with the NEW!
Why was Constitutional Convention
necessary?
• First system of gov’t = Articles of
Confederation was a failure
• Major structural problems
Major Problems of the Articles of
Confederation
• State gov’t had most of the power
• National gov’t had very little power
• Continental Congress had delegates from
each state; however, each state only got
one vote
• 2/3rds majority to pass any laws
• Unanimous vote to amend the Articles
• Nothing was getting done
Additional Problems
• No common currency
• Tariffs = tax on imported goods
• Made trade between the states more difficult
More Problems
• No national army
• No national court
system
• No chief executive
• Major boundary
disputes between
the states
States Claims Out West
Biggest Problem
• Inability to pay war debts
• The states and the national gov’t owed
huge sum of money
• National gov’t has no taxing authority
• Some states print more paper money to
solve this problem – creates a bigger
problem
• Shays’ Rebellion
Constitutional Convention (1787)
• Leaders from 12 of the
13 states gather in
Philadelphia
• Agree to keep their
proceedings an
absolute secret
• George Washington
chosen to lead the
Convention
• The Convention lasts
throughout the
summer of 1787
Influenced by the
Enlightenment Thinkers
John Locke:
• Consent of the governed
• Natural rights = “life, liberty, and
property”
• Gov’t must protect these rights
Montesquieu:
• Divide gov’t into three branches
• Legislative = make the law
• Executive = execute or carry out
the law
• Judicial = interpret the law
Voltaire:
• Freedom of speech
• Separation of Church & State
So what did they come up with?
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School House Rocks
“REPUBLIC” ~ not a pure “democracy”
Ideas from Greek and Roman gov’ts
Greek words = “demos & kratos” = power
to the people
Compromise is the Key
Legislative Branch:
• Virginia Plan ~ favored the big states
• New Jersey Plan ~ favored the small
states
• The Great Compromise ~ introduced by
Connecticut
• Two bodies (bicameral): House of Rep’s
(population) and the Senate (2 per state)
Legislative Branch Today
How many Presidents?
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Council of Presidents?
One President?
How should he/she be elected?
Decision: One President elected by an
electoral college
• Electoral College Video
Slavery & Representation
• How would slaves count in the population?
• Southern states = yes, they should ~ more
representation in the House of Rep’s
• Northern states = no!
• 3/5ths Compromise = only 3/5ths of the
slave population would count
Three Branches
• Legislative Branch
(Congress) ~ make
the laws
• Executive Branch
(President) ~
execute or carry
out the law
• Judicial Branch
(the Courts) ~
interpret the law
Will the Constitution be
approved?
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9 out of 13 states must approve it
Lots of skepticism
Two main groups:
Federalists ~ support the new constitution
Anti-Federalists ~ oppose the new
constitution