Reaching Toward the Constitution

The Constitutional Convention

• Held in Philadelphia

• George Washington chosen as the presiding officer​

• How states would be represented in the government​

Disagreed on . . .

• The Articles of Confederation weren't working

• We needed a new government system​

Agreed that . . .

Proposed by James Madison

• Create a legislative branch with two separate houses

• The number of representatives from each state would be based on the population size of each state FOR BOTH HOUSES

​

***more population = more representation***​

Some text here about the topic of discussion

Proposed by William Patterson

​(small states did not like the Virginia Plan. . .)

• Create a legislative branch with one house

• One representative from each state​

​

***equal representation***

AKA the Connecticut Compromise

Proposed a legislative branch that was BICAMERAL (two house legislature)

1. House of Representatives: # of representatives based on state's population

2. Senate: 2 from each state (equal representation)​

Thought it was unfair to count slaves in the population totals of the South

Northern States

Wanted to count slaves in their population totals

Southern States

Compromise: Each slave would be counted as 3/5ths in population counts

Ratification

• RATIFY = APPROVE

• 9/13 states had to ratify for it to go into effect

• The Constitution was published and many people had the chance to read it before it was voted on

Federalists

• ​SUPPORTERS OF THE CONSTITUTION

• Liked the idea of a strong national government

• Wanted a federal ​style government

Anti-Federalists

• ​DID NOT SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION AS ORIGINALLY WRITTEN

• Were afraid of a strong national government

• Worried people's natural rights would be at risk​

The Federalist Papers

• ​Propaganda essays written by James Madison, John Jay, and Alexander Hamilton

• Written to persuade people to support the ratification of the Constitution and the new national government​

• ​The federalists' efforts gain support for the Constitution worked

• They compromised with the Anti-Federalists and added the Bill of Rights to the Constitution to protect important rights of the people.

• June 1788 - the ninth state ratified the Constitution

• By 1790 - all 13 states agreed​