The document summarizes key events of the Constitutional Convention: 1. Delegates met in 1787 to revise the ineffective Articles of Confederation but instead wrote a new Constitution, establishing three branches of government with separated and shared powers. 2. They debated plans like the Virginia Plan, New Jersey Plan, and reached compromises, like the Connecticut Compromise and Three-Fifths Compromise. 3. The Constitution went into effect in 1788 after ratification by nine states, but debates continued between Anti-Federalists who opposed it and Federalists who supported a strong national government.

1. Part 5: ConstitutionPart 5: Constitution
 Your goal: Be able to describeYour goal: Be able to describe
the Constitutional system ofthe Constitutional system of
separated and shared powers.separated and shared powers.

2. Constitutional ConventionConstitutional Convention
 Delegates met toDelegates met to reviserevise
the Articles ofthe Articles of
Confederation, to make aConfederation, to make a
more effective government.more effective government.
 The ConstitutionalThe Constitutional
Convention met May, 25,Convention met May, 25,
1787.1787.
 They were NOT supposedThey were NOT supposed
to write a new constitution.to write a new constitution.

3. Constitutional ConventionConstitutional Convention
““for the sole and express purpose offor the sole and express purpose of
revising the Articles ofrevising the Articles of
Confederation and reporting toConfederation and reporting to
Congress … when agreed to inCongress … when agreed to in
Congress … to render the [ArticlesCongress … to render the [Articles
of Confederation] adequate to …of Confederation] adequate to …
preservation of the Union.”preservation of the Union.”
The United States Congress
Assembled, February 21, 1787

4. Constitutional ConventionConstitutional Convention
 Key AgreementsKey Agreements
 Articles of Confederation couldn’t be fixedArticles of Confederation couldn’t be fixed
 New government was neededNew government was needed
 Increased power of central governmentIncreased power of central government
 Power needed to be divided between 3 branchesPower needed to be divided between 3 branches
 Power of states to coin money or interfere withPower of states to coin money or interfere with
creditor’s rights would be limitedcreditor’s rights would be limited
 Absolute Secrecy – 20 year code of silenceAbsolute Secrecy – 20 year code of silence

5.  James Madison wasJames Madison was
a strong advocate ofa strong advocate of
a strong nationala strong national
government.government.
 He is called “theHe is called “the
father of thefather of the
Constitution” becauseConstitution” because
he was the author ofhe was the author of
the basic plan ofthe basic plan of
government that wasgovernment that was
eventually adopted.eventually adopted.

6.  The delegates came to theThe delegates came to the
agreement that they shouldagreement that they should
begin a new government.begin a new government.

7.  They agreed that the newThey agreed that the new
government should be limitedgovernment should be limited
and representative;and representative;
 3 branches of government;3 branches of government;
limit the state’s power whenlimit the state’s power when
coining money or interferingcoining money or interfering
with creditor’s rights;with creditor’s rights;
 they agreed the nationalthey agreed the national
government should begovernment should be
strengthened.strengthened.

8. Virginia PlanVirginia Plan
 TheThe Virginia PlanVirginia Plan proposed aproposed a
government based on 3 principles:government based on 3 principles:
 (1.) a strong national legislature(1.) a strong national legislature
with 2 chambers – lower housewith 2 chambers – lower house
chosen by the people and anchosen by the people and an
upper house chosen by the lowerupper house chosen by the lower
house;house;
 (2.) a strong national executive(2.) a strong national executive
chosen by the national legislature;chosen by the national legislature;
andand
 (3.) a national judiciary chosen by(3.) a national judiciary chosen by
the legislature.the legislature.

9. Virginia PlanVirginia Plan
 TheThe Virginia PlanVirginia Plan
 It became the basis for theIt became the basis for the
Constitution.Constitution.
 It favored the larger statesIt favored the larger states
population wise.population wise.

10. New Jersey PlanNew Jersey Plan
 TheThe New Jersey PlanNew Jersey Plan wantedwanted
to keep the unicameralto keep the unicameral
legislature, with one vote eachlegislature, with one vote each
state;state;
 Congress could levy taxes andCongress could levy taxes and
regulate trade; a weakregulate trade; a weak
executive with more than oneexecutive with more than one
person would be picked byperson would be picked by
congress;congress;
 and a national judiciary wouldand a national judiciary would
appointed by the executive.appointed by the executive.

11. New Jersey PlanNew Jersey Plan
 TheThe New Jersey PlanNew Jersey Plan
 This plan favored the smallerThis plan favored the smaller
states – gave equality. The Va.states – gave equality. The Va.
Plan favored larger states.Plan favored larger states.

12. Connecticut CompromiseConnecticut Compromise
 The ConnecticutThe Connecticut
CompromiseCompromise suggestedsuggested
the legislative branchthe legislative branch
have 2 houseshave 2 houses
 a House ofa House of
Representatives basedRepresentatives based
on population, and aon population, and a
Senate with 2 rep. perSenate with 2 rep. per
state picked by thestate picked by the
legislature.legislature.

13. Connecticut CompromiseConnecticut Compromise
 Larger states had theLarger states had the
advantage in the House;advantage in the House;
smaller were protected in thesmaller were protected in the
Senate with equalSenate with equal
representation.representation.

14. Three-fifths CompromiseThree-fifths Compromise
 TheThe Three-fifthsThree-fifths
CompromiseCompromise ended theended the
debate on the number ofdebate on the number of
representatives a staterepresentatives a state
would get in the House.would get in the House.

15. Three-fifths CompromiseThree-fifths Compromise
 Three-fifths of theThree-fifths of the
enslaved peoples wouldenslaved peoples would
be counted for taxes andbe counted for taxes and
the purpose ofthe purpose of
representation.representation.

17.  June 21, 1788, theJune 21, 1788, the
Constitution goes intoConstitution goes into
effect when Neweffect when New
Hampshire becameHampshire became
the ninth state to ratifythe ninth state to ratify
it.it.

18.  The political debateThe political debate
ended may 29, 1790ended may 29, 1790
when Rhode Islandwhen Rhode Island
agreed to approve it.agreed to approve it.

19.  Two opposing viewpointsTwo opposing viewpoints
arose about thearose about the
Constitution:Constitution: Anti-Anti-
federalistsfederalists andand
Federalists.Federalists.
 The Anti-federalists saidThe Anti-federalists said
the Constitution wasthe Constitution was
drafted in secrecy anddrafted in secrecy and
waswas extralegal,extralegal, notnot
sanctioned by law. Theysanctioned by law. They
were against it.were against it.

20.  The FederalistsThe Federalists
argued that a strongargued that a strong
national governmentnational government
was to stopwas to stop anarchy,anarchy,
political disorder.political disorder.
They were for theThey were for the
Constitution. TheyConstitution. They
promised a Bill ofpromised a Bill of
Rights added to it.Rights added to it.