Aim: 1) Shay’s Rebellion
2) Constitutional Convention
Shay’s Rebellion
Background
Springfield, Massachusetts-Summer of 1786
Massachusetts government wanted to pay off
debt and have a sound currency
Between 1780 and 1786, legislature levied 1.9
million pounds in taxes
Burden of taxes falls heavily on farmers
Most farmers already in heavy debt
Faced possible loss of their land for failure to
pay debts and state taxes
Daniel Shay led rebellion
Shay was a veteran of the Revolutionary War
Massachusetts government fails to issue paper money
or pass other measures to help debt ridden farmers
Shay and his followers storm the courts in Springfield to
prevent courts from meeting and to prevent seizure of
their land
Governor James Bowdoin dispatched army to put down
rebellion
Rebels attack army
1,000 people arrested
Shay fled to Vermont
Reaction to the Rebellion
Governor Bowdoin-Must follow laws or America
would descend into “A state of anarchy,
confusion, and slavery.”
Thomas Jefferson- (Anti-Federalist)- “A little
rebellion now and then is a good thing. The tree
of liberty must be refreshed from time to time
with the blood of patriots and tyrants.”
George Washington- “What, gracious God, is
man that there should be such inconsistency
and perfidiousness in his conduct? We are fast
verging to anarchy and confusion!”
Importance of the Rebellion
Massachusetts appealed to Congress for help
but legally Congress could do little
National government needed to be strengthened
Need for uniform economic policies
Protect property owners from governments
infringing on their rights
Revolutionary War fought on the idea of
democracy. Was that idea now out of control?
Does private liberty endanger national safety?
“Mobacracy”
- Unchecked power in the hands of the people
- How mobs scare government leaders
Annapolis Convention
Famous Americans who attended-James
Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John
Marshall
Recognize need for a stronger national
government
Meet in September 1786- delegates only from
six states
– Better ways to regulate interstate and international
commerce
– Hamilton proposes another gathering in Philadelphia
Every state except Rhode Island sent delegates
to Philadelphia
Convention starts in May 1787
Delegates do away with Articles of
Confederation and decide to draft a new
constitution
Constitutional Convention
Starts on May 25, 1787
55 Delegates
George Washington-Presiding Officer
Other famous Americans include James Madison,
George Mason, and Ben Franklin (81 Years Old, Author
of Treaty of Paris 1783)
Most delegates came from wealth
Exception is Alexander Hamilton
Half the delegates had a college education
Only 1/10 of 1 percent of Americans attended college
22 served in Revolutionary War
To allow for free and open debate, meeting took
place in private
Madison took careful notes-not published until
1840 when last delegate died
The Constitution- a “Four Act” Drama
Act One- Alternate Plans to the Articles of
Confederation
Act Two- Great Compromise
Act Three- Ratification Process
Act Four- Bill of Rights
CC has also been called the “Miracle in
Philadelphia”
Issues
Structure of the new national government
Power of the state governments
National security vs. individual liberty and
freedom
Structure of Government
3 branches with a strong central government
“Power of the Purse” belonged to Congress. Did not
have to ask States for permission to raise or levy taxes
States prohibited from infringing on people’s rights
Delegates rejected Hamilton’s idea of President and
Senators serving for life
“Rich and well born must rule for the masses who
seldom judge or determine right.”
George Mason-”The key to a stable, effective republican
government was finding a way to balance the competing
claims of liberty and power.”
Virginia Plan Class Reading
Under this plan, what happens to state
government?
How is Representation decided?
What is meant by the word faction(s)?
Why was it important to extend the sphere?
Virginia vs. New Jersey Plan
Under Constitution, national government had to
be stronger than state governments
Caused a heated debate-balance of power
between federal and state governments and big
vs. small states
Virginia Plan
James Madison
2 house legislature
State’s population determined representation in
each house
Small states fear big states like Virginia,
Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania would
dominate
NJ Plan
William Patterson
One house Congress
States cast one vote
This issue threatens to ruin the convention.
Many delegates ready to walk out.
Solution is Great Compromise
Great Compromise
Roger Sherman
Connecticut Compromise
– 2 House legislature
– Senate-2 from each state, 6 year term, chosen by
state legislature. 17th Amendment in 1913 allows for
direct election of senators
– HOR-determined by state’s population, 2 year term,
chosen by the people
Election of the President
Electoral College
Number of electors determined by a state’s number in
the HOR plus 2 senators
Today- 270 Electoral Votes out of 538 needed to elect
the President
Originally, electors cast two ballots- 1st place-President,
2nd place-Vice President
12th Amendment makes President and VP a ticket
If no candidate received a majority of votes, election
would be decided or “thrown” into the HOR
Senate would chose VP
Is it possible for a candidate to win the popular vote but
lose in the EC?
Yes, has happened four times in our history
Debate over slavery
Words slaves and slavery do not appear in Constitution
Institution of slavery divided delegates
North-Slaves should be counted towards states share of
federal taxes
3/5 Compromise-3/5 of “all other persons” (slave
population) will count towards representation in the HOR
and the Electoral College
Constitution prohibited the abolishment of slavery until
1808
Constitution allowed for fugitive slave laws
Slavery in the Constitution
South Carolina delegates were the major voice
to keep slavery
170,000 slaves came to Georgia and SC
between 1787 and 1808
Constitution gave national government no power
to interfere with slavery in the states
3/5 Compromise gave southern states
tremendous political power
Between 1788 and 1848, 12 of the 16
Presidents were southern slaveholders
Judiciary System
Main job was to settle disputes under the laws
and treaties of United States
No such system under AOC
Supreme Court
“Inferior Courts”-Federal Courts
Judges to both would be appointed by President
Supreme Court judges serve for life
Ratification
Last convention session took place on
September 17, 1787
Franklin urges delegates to sign
39 of 45 remaining delegates signed it
Sent to states for ratification