Road to the Constitution
In the beginning…
• The new nation was organized into a
confederation –
a group of individuals who band together for
a common purpose.
• Articles of Confederation
-National Legislature
-Each state has 1 vote.
- NO executive or judicial branches.
Articles of Confederation
Under the Articles of Confederation Congress
could
1.) Declare War
2.) Make treaties with foreign nations
3.) Work out trade agreement between
states.
• Congress could NOT
1. Tax or enforce taxes
2. Enforce laws
(Congress could not pass a law unless 9 of 13 states voted in favor
of it.)
Articles of Confederation = WEAK CENTRAL
GOVERNMENT
Constitution Convention
• May 25, 1787
• 55 delegates from 12 states.
(Rhode Island, the 13th State opposed a
strong central government)
Start from Scratch
• Key Decisions
–Each state would have one vote.
–Simple majority would decide any
issue (7 votes)
–The work of the convention was
secret.
–George Washington picked as
leader.
Two Plans
• Virginia Plan
-Recommended by James Madison
-Called for a two house Legislature
- Bicameral – Two house
-Representation based on states population.
Two Plans
• New Jersey
Introduced by William Paterson
Included one House
States would have equal representation and
therefore equal votes.
Constitutional Compromises
• The two sides come to a compromise.
The Great Compromise
In one house each state would have
equal representation. –
 Senate
In the other house, representation would
be based on each states population.
- House of Representatives
Issue of Slavery
- South wanted slaves to count towards
population based on representation.
-North wanted slaves to count toward taxation
only.
Three-Fifths Compromise
both representation and taxation to be counted
as 3/5 of a person.
• Executive Branch
-Many felt one leader could lead to tyranny.
-Preferred a executive committee of 2 people.
- They settle on one leader.
Election
- Some wanted Congress to elect president.
- Others favored a popular election.
Settled on Electoral College that would elect
President.
The Electoral College in Plain English
Electoral College
• Each state legislature would choose a
number of electors
– - The electoral college.
– The electoral college would select the
president and the vice president.
– How many electoral votes does Kentucky get?
Ratification of the Constitution
• In order for the Constitution to be official 9 of the
13 states had to ratify it.
• Anti-Federalist
–
–
–
–
Argued the national government had too much power.
Feared this would lead to tyranny.
The states lost too much power.
**And it was missing a bill of rights.**
Ratification of the Constitution
• Federalists
• Argued the nation could not survive without a strong
national government.
• Promised if the Constitution is adopted they would
add Bill of rights.
• Wrote The Federalist to convince people to support
the new constitution.
**First political parties!**