1. WELCOME TO THE
FEDERAL
CONVENTION
May, 1787

2. PENNSYLVANIA
STATE HOUSE

3. WHY ARE
WE HERE?
“for the sole and express
purpose of revising the
Articles of
Confederation”

4. What’s wrong
with the
Articles?
Weak central government
States aren’t forced to follow laws
No taxing power
No national executive
No national judicial branch
Can’t control interstate commerce
Can’t stop conflicts between
states
Can’t stop domestic rebellion
Difficult to pass laws
Very difficult to amend

5. The Articles
legislative branch
A unicameral, or one-house, legislature
Each state has one vote, regardless of size
executive branch
none
judicial branch
none

6. The Rules
Secrecy
Courtesy
Flexibility

8. The divisive issues
The national or general
government
Representation of states
The executive branch
Slavery and the slave trade
Elections
and others …

9. The
Virginia
Plan
Madison Randolph
WE NEED A NEW FORM
OF GOVERNMENT

10. Which should be
stronger, the state
government or the
national
government?
Why?

11. The decision
A stronger national government is
necessary
A federal system was developed –
both the national government and
state governments have power
Should be limited by the constitution
A republican form of government is
best
Supremacy

12. How should we
determine the
representation of the
states in Congress?
By
population, money, e
quality ...?

13. The Virginia Plan
legislative branch
A bicameral, or two-house, legislature
Representation determined by population of the
state
executive branch
a single national executive selected by Congress
Some veto power
judicial branch
judges selected by Congress

14. Virginia
691,737
249,073
South Carolina
68,825 Rhode Island
434,373 Pennsylvania
Population
393,751
North Carolina
340,120
184,139 New York
141,885 New Jersey
378,787 New Hampshire
319,728
82,548
Massachusetts
59,096 Maryland
237,946 Georgia
Delaware
0 200,000 400,000 600,000 800,000
Connecticut

15. The New
Jersey Plan
Paterson
WE NEED TO STRENGTHEN THE
ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION

16. The New Jersey Plan
legislative branch
A unicameral, or one-house, legislature
membership based on equality – one vote per
state
More powers than under the AOC
executive branch
a multiple national executive selected by
Congress
Some veto power
judicial branch

17. Hamilton’s Plan
 proposed a government
based on the British
monarchy and
parliament
 all powerful national
government
 Senators with life terms
 President with life term
 Judges with life term

18. The Great Compromise
legislative branch
A bicameral legislature
A House of Representatives, based on population
A Senate, based on equality
executive branch
Determined by a committee
judicial branch
Determined by a committee

19. “When a broad
table is to be
made, and the
edge of the
planks do not
fit, the artist
takes a little
from both, and
makes a good
Franklin
joint.”

20. WE NEED TO
COMPROMISE
Sherman
The Great
Compromise

21. Should there
be one or
more than
one chief
executive?

22. What power(s)
should the
chief
executive
have?

23. National
Executive
A single executive – the
President
Checked by the
legislative branch
Veto power

24. What should be
done about slavery
and the slave trade
in the United
States?

25. Slavery and the Slave Trade

26. Slavery Compromise #1
What should be done with the
Trans-Atlantic slave trade?
SLAVE TRADE
COMPROMISE
Slave trade (importation of
slaves) could be banned by
Congress, but not for 20 years
NOT SLAVERY ITSELF

27. Should slaves
count in the
population
toward
representation?
Why or why not?

28. State Population Slave pop
Connecticut 237,946 2,764
Delaware 59,096 8,887
Georgia 82,548 29,264
Maryland 319,728 103,036
Massachusetts 378,787 0
New Hampshire 141,885 158
New Jersey 184,139 11,423
New York 340,120 21,324
North Carolina 393,751 100,572
Pennsylvania 434,373 3,737
Rhode Island 68,825 948
South Carolina 249,073 107,094
Virginia 691,737 292,627

29. Slavery Compromise #2
How should slaves count in matters of
representation?
THREE FIFTHS
COMPROMISE
“Other persons” would count as
3/5 of a person for matters of
representation

30. Who should
select the
legislators
(Congress)?

31. COMPROMISE
How should the members of
Congress be elected?
Compromise
House of Representatives is elected by
the people
Senate is elected by the state legislatures

32. Who should
select the
chief
executive or
executives?

33. COMPROMISE
How should the Chief Executive
(President) be elected?
Compromise
The Electoral College
The people would vote for electors,
who would then select the President

34. ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS
Should there be religious test or
requirements for public office?
NO
Who should have the power to declare war?
CONGRESS
Should there be a standing army during
times of peace?
YES
Should Congress control interstate
commerce?
YES - a big deal! Lots o’ power for
Congress

35. Writing the
Constitution
 July - Committee of Detail
 August – Debate again over the
document
 September – Committee of Style
 Who wrote it?
 Never really established, but
Gouverneur Morris takes credit

36. “I confess that
there are several
parts of this
constitution which
I do not at present
approve, but I am
not sure I shall
never approve
them … I agree to
this Constitution
with all its Franklin Wilson
faults…”

37. Weakness Solution
Weak national government Stronger (but limited) national
government
Only one branch Three branches
No national executive to enforce Single national executive
laws
No national judicial system National judicial branch can solve
disputes between states
Difficult to pass laws (9/13 states) Simple majority in both houses
(50%+1)
Very difficult to amend (all 13 Easier to amend (but still a
states) challenge –3/4 states)
Inability to tax National government may tax
No regulation of commerce National government can regulate
interstate trade

38. Signing the
Constitution
39 signers
(38, kinda)
3 didn’t sign
Randolph
Gerry
Mason

39. “…I have the happiness to know it is a
rising and not a setting sun”

41. RATIFICATION
The Constitution
was sent to
states for
RATIFICATION
(or approval) in
State
Conventions –
not in the state
governments

42. RATIFICATION
9 out of 13
states had to
ratify the
Constitution
for it to
become law
(not 13/13)