Constitutional Convention

After Shay's rebellion it was apparent to the leaders of the American Republics that a change was desperately needed. There must be some form of government strong enough to prevent this in the future.

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​Why?

The delegates were mostly lawyers and wealthy businessmen.

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They were all white men, and a majority of them had direct economic interests in the outcome of the convention.

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Who?

Thomas Hobbes - Leviathan
Social Contract (but only one sovereign in charge)
John Locke - Two Treatises of Government
Governments are at the mercy of its people and exist to provide for its people and to protect their Natural Rights, (Life, Liberty, and Property)

Magna Carta

​https://constitutioncenter.org/the-constitution/historic-document-library/detail/charles-a-beard-an-economic-interpretation-of-the-constitution-of-the-united-states-new-york-the-macmillan-company-1913

They were sent by the state to work on fixing the Articles of Confederation. Nothing more. They had 000.0000 Authority to do what they were about to do this is called.....​

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What were they doing?

What were the major debatable issues.

How many parts (called Branches) should the government be divided into?

Who should be able to vote?

Which mechanisms will leaders be chosen from?

What will the jobs be, of the government divisions?

Which branch should be more important and stronger​?

Slavery?

​States Rights?

How does the government pick representation?​

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Complete Secrecy..... Except

Subject | Subject

​https://avalon.law.yale.edu/subject_menus/debcont.asp

​James Madison kept notes written in Greek in side of his special desk that allowed him to write secretly