Chapter Five: Section Three: Creating the Constitution

Chapter Five: Section Three: Creating the Constitution

Articles of Confederation

• The plan of government we used towards the end of the Revolutionary War

• Ratified (approved) March 1781

• Strengths were it negotiated the Treaty of Paris of 1783, passed the Land Ordinance of 1785 and Northwest Ordinance of 1787

• Weaknesses were no chief executive, no power to tax, no courts to settle disputes, and states had more power than the Articles

In May 1787, delegates from the 13 colonies return to Philadelphia​ to create a stronger government. Some come to strengthen the Articles of Confederation others came to craft a completely new constitution.

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​He firmly believed in a strong national government and took detailed notes of the convention.

James Madison​

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​He refused to attend the Constitutional Convention because he believed in the Articles of Confederation

​​Patrick Henry

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​He was elected president of the Constitutuional Convention.

​​George Washington

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​He agreed that the central government created by the Articles of Confederation was too weak.

​​Alexander hamilton

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Some delegates wanted to strengthen the Articles of Confederation. Others wanted to make a completely new constitution or governing plan. Two plans were debated at the convention. Both plans called for executive and judicial branches.​

In May of 1787, 55 delegates, or representatives from the states, held a meeting known as the Constitutional Convention.

The Constitutional Convention began on May 15th, 1787 in Philadelphia. (Independence Hall)

The Framers

-12 of the 13 states sent delegates to the convention

-Rhode Island did not send any delegates

-There was a total of 55 delegates

Subject | Subject

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George Washington

-Elected the president of the convention

-Demanded complete secrecy as the delegates set about the controversial task of not just revising the Articles of Confederation, but scrapping them all together

-Brought respect and honor

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Important Individuals

James Madison

-Kept notes during the meetings

-Argued strongly for a strong central government that would unify the country

-Became known as the "Father of the Constitution"

Important Individuals (Continued)

​https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kCCmuftyj8A

• ​Proposed by Roger Sherman, a delegate from Connecticut.

• Solved the question of how states should be represented in the new government.

•  Great Compromise: the plan of government adopted at the Constitutional Convention that established a two-house Congress.

• In the House of Representatives, representation from each state is based on state population. In the Senate, each state is represented by two senators.

The Great Compromise

3/5th compromise

• ​Northern states did not want to count slaves

• Southern states did

• It was only for representational purposes for the south to have more power in Congress

• Instead of "slavery," new Constitution said "all other persons" to avoid the word slavery

What does this look like for states?

• In 1790, each state got ONE representative for every 30,000 people

• 3/5th of the enslaved population was included in this count

Popular Sovereignty

• ​Many Delegates wanted a strong national government because of the failures of the articles of confederation

• They still wanted to protect Popular Sovereignty or the idea that political authority belongs to the people.

• This was one of the main idea of the Declaration of Independence.

Montesquieu said to stop government from becoming too strong the powers should be separated into three branches.

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​Separation of Powers

​Powers Separated

​The U.S. Constitution - Creates a constitutional government with three separate branches, each with separate powers

Legislative Branch

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Executive Branch

Judicial Branch

​Article 1: Makes the Law

​Article 2: Enforces the Law

​Article 3: Interprets and Applies the Law

​Checks and Balances

Allows the different branches to check, stop or limit each other.

• This creates a balance of power amongst all branches (equal power).

​https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HuFR5XBYLfU