Ch 8
Creating the Constitution
Compromise –
A settlement of a dispute by each party
giving up some demands in order to reach a goal.
Essential Question- What compromises
emerged from the Constitutional Convention?
Ch 8.1
Introduction
Purpose
What- We are going to learn about
Compromise.
How- by learning about the weaknesses of
the Articles of Confederation
Why- so we understand how compromise
affects my life.
Members of the Second Continental Congress knew that the former
colonies needed to create a central government.
8.1 Introduction
A. Articles of Confederation
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
After the Declaration of Independence, Congress tried to unite the
states under one national government.
Members of Congress were afraid a strong central government would
trample their rights.
Created Articles of Confederation, a firm league of friendship.
States keep their powers.
Congress runs national government, each state got 1 vote.
Confederate Congress, which had limited powers.
1.
Power to :Declare war, raise an army/navy, print (coin) money, set up postal system.
2.
No power to impose taxes. They had to ask and states often ignore the request.
Second Continental Congress passed Articles of Confederation and then
sent the document to each state legislature for ratification, or approval.
Final state, Maryland, ratified Articles of Confederation in March 1781.
Western Lands
Important Questions
What worried James Madison about the future of the United States?
Why did many members of Congress fear a strong central government?
What were some of the government’s powers under the Articles of
Confederation?
What were some of the government’s limitations?
Important Questions
What worried James Madison about the future of the United States?
 He worried that the states would not work together.
Why did many members of Congress fear a strong central government?
 They feared such a government would trample their rights.
What were some of the government’s powers under the Articles of
Confederation?
 Coin and borrow money, declare war, raise army/navy, negotiate treaties,
could settle disputes between states, ask states for money and soldiers,
set up postal system.
What were some of the government’s limitations?
 Could not impose taxes, had no president or national court system, had no
power to settle disputes, collect money or supply troops.
8.2
Early Quarrels and
Accomplishments
Purpose
What- We are going to learn about
Compromise.
How- by understanding the Articles of
Confederation early quarrels and
accomplishments
Why- so we understand how compromise
affects my life.
8.2
Early Quarrels and Accomplishments
A. The Articles of Confederation key weakness was that Congress had no
power to settle quarrels among states which were mostly about taxes and
boundaries.
B. Developing Western Lands
1. Confederation Congress planned to sell western lands to raise money.
2. Land ordinance of 1785 set up system for surveying and dividing public
lands know as Northwest Territory- included what is now Illinois,
Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin
C. Northwest Ordinance
1. Northwest Ordinance of 1787- a law that divided the Northwest territory
into smaller territories which h was governed by a territorial governor.
2. Created a system for adding new states; banned slavery in the
Northwest Territory.
Northwest Territories
Land
Ordinance
of 1785
• Congress
surveyed the
land into
squares 6
miles on
each side.
(townships)
Land
Ordinance
of 1785
• Each town
was divided
into 36
smaller
sections, 640
acres each.
(the cost was
a minimum
of $1 per
acre)
Land
Ordinance
of 1785
• People
pooled their
money in
order to be
able to
afford a
piece of
land.
Township Map
Sargent County, North Dakota
Northwest Ordinance (1787)
• When 5,000 free
males of voting age
settled an area, it
became selfgoverning.
• When the population
reached 60,000 free
citizens, the area could
apply for statehood.
Ex.) OH, IN, IL, MI,
WI
• Slavery was outlawed.
Moving West After the Revolutionary War Americans
began heading west in greater numbers. Thousands of
people settled in the lands of the Northwest Territory.
Many of these people were farmers from New England,
where good farmland was scarce. As the population of the
Northwest Territory grew and the region was divided into
states, more settlers came from throughout the nation and
from overseas.
Important Questions
What Compromise was made to create and establish
the Articles of Confederation.
8.3
Shays Rebellion and the Need
for Change
Purpose
What- We are going to learn about
Compromise.
How- by studying the causes of Shays’s
Rebellion
Why- so we understand how compromise
affects my life.
Daniel Shays
Shays’s Rebellion
A. Instead of printing paper money, Massachusetts collected taxes on land.
B. Farmers who could not pay debts lost their land and sometimes went to
prison.
A.
National Government.
1.
Confederate Congress could not regulate interstate commerce – trade between two or
more states – so trade laws differed from state to state.
B.
Inflation
1.
Some States printed large amounts of paper money, creating inflation- increased prices
for goods and services combined with the reduced value of money.
2.
Inflation helps debtors- people who owe money – because they can pay back their debts
with money that is worth less than what they borrowed.
3.
Creditors- people who lend money- were upset at receiving worthless money
C.
Rising inflation and lost trade led to a depression- a period of low economic activity combined
with a rise in unemployment.
D.
Revolt
1.
Some Massachusetts farmers angry over land taxes carried out a revolt that became
known as Shays’s Rebellion.
2.
Led by Daniel Shays, a poor farmer and Revolutionary War veteran.
E.
Outcome
1.
Rebels were defeated in January 1787; many soon surrendered or were arrested.
2.
National government did not have the power to offer much help during the revolt.
3.
Revealed weakness of the U.S. central government and the Articles of Confederation.
Other problems
A. Under Articles of Confederation, Congress could not force
states to provide an army, which made it difficult to
protect citizens or enforce international treaties.
B. Britain had not yet abandon forts on the U.S. side of the
Great Lakes, as required by the Treaty of Paris 1783.
C. Spain closed lower Mississippi River to U.S. shipping, which
hurt western farmers.
Other Problems
A. British Economic Policy
A.
B.
Closed many ports in the British West Indies to American Ships
Placed high duties on U.S. exports, such as rice, tar, and tobacco.
B. Effects on the economy
A.
B.
American exports dropped, while British imports rose
British merchants could sell British-manufactured goods in the
United States at much lower prices than manufactured goods made
locally.
C. Responses
1. Confederation Congress could not set tariffs-taxes on
imports and exports.
2. American merchants sought new foreign markets, such
as in China and France.
A Call for a Convention
A. Five states sent delegates to the Annapolis
Convention in 1786 to discuss changing the
Articles of Confederation.
B. Delegates planned a Constitutional Convention at
Philadelphia in May 1787.
8.3
A. Shays’s Rebellion and the Need for Change
A.
B.
C.
Under the Articles of Confederation, the new nation had serious money
problems.
Congress had power to coin money but states printed money too.
Money became worthless.
B. Massachusetts Farmers Rebel
A.
B.
C.
D.
Farmers could not pay taxes or debts
Courts orders farmer to be sold to pay taxes and debts
Daniel Shays, a war hero, rebels
Shays’s Rebellion is ended by Massachusetts militia
C. A Call for a Convention
A.
B.
C.
Shays’s Rebellion forces Congress to call a convention to revise the Article of
Confederation.
Delegates meet in Philadelphia in May 1787
James Madison is prepared to create a strong central government
Important Questions
How did the lack of an army affect relations with
foreign countries?
 United States had no military to motivate or force
other nations to respect its rights.
Important Questions
How did British trade policies hurt the U.S. economy?




It hurt sale of American goods in Britain.
Lowered American exports.
Created trade imbalance with Britain.
Made it hard for American manufacturers to
compete.
Important Questions
What conclusion did Americans reach after Shays’s
Rebellion?
 U.S. government under the Articles of
Confederation was to weak to respond to crises.
8.4-8.10 Big Idea
• What compromises emerge from the
Constitution Convention?
Study Skills
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Study 5-10 minutes a night
Know Vocabulary
Understand Organization
Create Flashcards
Drill and Practice facts
Know the test giver
Know your strengths and weaknesses
Read aloud/Reread/Write down
Write test questions
Teach someone else
Complete chapter review
Create a chart or graph
Vocabulary Terms
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
popular sovereignty
federalism
legislative
executive
judicial branch
checks and balances
Constitution Convention
James Madison
Virginia Plan
William Patterson
New Jersey Plan
Great Compromise
Three-Fifths Compromise
8.4
Opening the Constitution
Convention
What- We are going to learn about
compromise
How- by understanding why delegates met to
revise the Articles Of Confederation
Why- so we understand how compromise
affects my life.
8.4
A. Opening the Constitutional Convention
A.
B.
C.
Constitutional Convention held at Philadelphia’s State House in May
1787.
Called to discuss ways to improve the Articles of Confederation
George Washington was elected president of the convention
B. The Delegates
A.
B.
C.
Every state but Rhode Island sent delegates, for a total of 55
Did not include John Adams or Thomas Jefferson who were
representing the U.S. in Britain and France.
Also not in attendance were Sam Adams, John Hancock, and
Patrick Henry.
C. The Father of the Constitution
A.
The most prepared delegate was James Madison, who took good notes
and joined in many discussions.
D. The Rule of Secrecy
A.
B.
Delegates needed to be able to speak their minds without fear.
All windows, and doors were closed and guarded
E. Shared Beliefs and Clashing Views
A.
B.
Committed to Life, Liberty and Pursuit of Happiness.
Believed in a republic, constitution, suffrage, and more powerful
government.
Important Questions
Why was the Constitutional Convention held?
 To discuss ways to improve the Articles of
Confederation..
Homework Quiz
• How many states and delegates were
•
•
•
•
represented at the Constitutional Convention?
What was the purpose of the Constitutional
Convention?
Where was the Constitutional Convention held?
(city, state, building)
Who was the most influential delegate?
Name two famous men who were at the
Constitutional Convention and two men that
were not.
8.5
Issue: How Should States Be
Represented in the New Government
What- We are going to learn about compromise
How- by understanding the issues with how
states should be represented in government
Why- so we understand how compromise
affects my life.
8.5
A. How Should States Be Represented in the New Government?
A.
B.
Virginia proposes to create new document.
Several issues divided delegates, particularly along state and regional
lines.
B. The Virginia Plan
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.
The Virginia Plan, or large state plan, was written mainly by James
Madison.
Called for new constitution that gave supreme power to central
government.
Created Federalism- Dividing power between the states and central
government.
Created three branches, Executive, Legislative, Judicial.
Including bicameral (2 House) legislature in which representation was
based on state population.
Opposed by small states, because larger states would have more
representatives.
C. New Jersey Plan
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.
was offered by New Jersey delegate William Paterson
Called for new constitution that gave supreme power to central
government.
Created Federalism- Dividing power between the states and central
government.
Created three branches, Executive, Legislative, Judicial.
Created a unicameral (1House) legislature, with each state receiving
equal representation
Opposed by larger states, because smaller states would have more
influence
8.6
Resolution: The Great Compromise
What- We are going to learn about compromise
How- by understanding the Great Compromise
Why- so we understand how compromise
affects my life.
8.6
A. Resolution: The Great Compromise
B.
C.
A. Large and small states could not agree on either plan.
Tempers Rise
A. The smaller states did not trust the larger states.
B. They threatened to ally with a foreign nation
A Compromised Is Reached
A. The Great Compromise was offered by Connecticut delegate Roger Sherman
B. Delegates eventually passed what had become known as the Great
Compromise.
C. Created Federalism- Dividing power between the states and central
government.
D. Created three branches, Executive, Legislative, Judicial.
E. Created a bicameral (2 houses) legislature, in which each state received equal
representation in the upper house (Senate) and population-based
representation in the lower house (House of Representatives).
Homework Quiz
• What plan called for the legislative branch to be based
on population?
• What was the compromise called that settled the dispute
between large states and small states?
• Who presented the New Jersey Plan?
• How many houses did the Virginia Plan purpose?
• How many houses in the legislative branch did the
compromise include and how would representation be
determined?
– name of house- how many representatives
8.7
Issue: How Should Slaves Be Counted
What- We are going to learn about compromise
How- by understanding the issues with how
slaves should be counted
Why- so we understand how compromise
affects my life.
8.7
A. Issue: How Should Slaves Be Counted
B.
C.
A. Now that representation was settled how do we count slaves?
People or Property?
A. Southern delegates wanted slaves to be counted like everyone else for
purposes of representation.
B. Northern delegates thought slaves were property and should not be counted to
determine representation but should be counted to determine taxes.
C. Northern also stated that if they are to be counted as people “then make them
citizens and let them vote.”
D. Under so-called Three-Fifths Compromise, each slave would be counted as
three fifths of a person for purposes of representation.
New Thinking on Slavery
A. Many Northern states began thinking slavery was wrong because of the
principles of the Declaration of Independence and many states passed laws
ending slavery.
B. Although many southern were uneasy about slavery they would not abolish it
because their economy depended on it.
8.8
Resolution: The Three-Fifths
Compromise
What- We are going to learn about compromise
How- by understanding the Three-Fifths
Compromise
Why- so we understand how compromise
affects my life.
8.8
A. Resolution: The Three-Fifths Compromise
A.
B.
B.
C.
After much debate Madison proposed a compromise.
Under so-called Three-Fifths Compromise, each slave would be counted as
three fifths of a person for purposes of representation in the House of
Representation.
Another Slavery Issue
A. Northern wanted congress to control trade between states and other
countries.
B. Southern worried that congress would taxes southern exports like rice,
tobacco and use that power to outlaw the slave trade.
C. Southern and northern delegates disagreed over ending the foreign slave
trade.
More Compromises on Slavery.
A. Under another compromise,
A. Congress could control trade but could not tax exports.
B. northern delegates would wait 20 years before attempting to end
foreign slave trade; southern delegates would not ask that laws in
Congress require a two-thirds majority vote to pass.
C. They agreed to fugitive slave clause
Important Questions
How did the delegates resolve disagreements over
slavery and representation?
Each slave would count as three fifths of a person for
purposes of representation.
Congress would make no laws about Slave Trade for
20 years.
Homework Quiz
• How did delegates from Pennsylvania want to count
slaves?
• How did delegates from Virginia want to count slaves?
• What did the two sides agree to do about the slave
trade?
• What is the Three-Fifths Compromise about? (Slavery?)
• If the Great Compromise was between large and small
states, who was the Three Fifths Compromise between?
8.9
Issue: How Should the Chief Executive
Be Elected
What- We are going to learn about compromise
How- by understanding how the Chief Executive
should be elected
Why- so we understand how compromise
affects my life.
8.9
A. Issue: How Should the Chief Executive Be Elected
A. James Wilson wanted a single person like a King.
B. Others were not happy with that idea
B. One Executive or Three?
A. Some delegates want one executive to make “clear, timely
and responsible” decision
B. Others, like Edmund Randolph, wanted three to keep one
from abusing power.
C. Choosing the Chief Executive
A. Some delegates wanted Congress to appoint the President
B. Some wanted the people to appoint the President
C. Others wanted a chosen special group called electors to do
it.
8.10
A. Resolution: The Electoral College
1. Delegates agreed on one Executive.
2. Could not break a tie for People or Congress to elect
3. Finally agreed on Electoral College.
B. The Electoral System
A. Electoral college is a group of electors who cast their vote to elect
President/Vice president every four years
B. Electoral number is House Representatives plus Senators.
C. States use to choose the Electors but now the people do.
C. Political Parties and Elections
A. Delegates could not predict the advances in communication or the
rise of political parties
B. A candidate can win the popular vote but lose the Electoral vote
Big Idea
• What was the path to ratification of the
Constitution?
Study Skills
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Study 5-10 minutes a night
Know the Vocabulary
Understand Organization
Create Flashcards
Drill and Practice facts
Know the test giver
Know your strengths and weaknesses
Read aloud/Reread/Write down
Write test questions
Teach someone else
Complete chapter review
Create a chart or graph
Vocabulary Terms
•
•
•
•
•
•
Amendments
Antifederalists
George Mason
Federalists
Federalist Papers
Bill of Rights
8.11- 8.12
What- We are going to learn about compromise
How- by learning how the Constitution was
ratified
Why- so we understand how compromise affects
my life.
A. The Convention Ends
A.
8.11
The hard work designing the Constitution is over but not finished until
the states approve it.
B. Approving the Constitution
1.
2.
3.
Should the Constitution be ratified (approved) by all 13 or majority (7)?
They compromised on ¾ (9) states for approval
Who should ratify it, state legislatures or the people? They decided to
have each state call a special convention with delegates elected by the
people.
It would not be easy!!!
C. Signing the Constitution
1.
2.
3.
4.
The Constitution was complete on 9/17/1787.
Not all delegates signed the Constitution.
13 left before it was signed and 3 refused to sign.
They believe it gave too much power to Federal government or that it
did not protect individual rights.
8.12
A. The Constitution Goes to the States
A.
People are worried about a strong national government.
B. The Federalists
1.
2.
3.
4.
Supporters of the new Constitution were called Federalists.
They believed it was strong enough to unite the states without
threatening rights.
Included George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Hamilton,
James Madison, and John Jay.
James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay wrote a series of
papers defending the Constitution. They were called the Federalist
Papers.
C. The Anti-Federalist
1.
2.
People who opposed the new Constitution were called Antifederalists.
Some Antifederalists thought the Constitution Convention had
overstepped its bounds: others thought the Constitution gave central
government too much power.
Important Questions
What objectives to the Constitution did Antifederalists
raise?
 Gave too much power to central government.
 Lacked a bill of rights.
 Convention was not suppose to write a new
Constitution.
The Federalists Papers
A. Defending the Constitution
1.
2.
The Federalist Papers were a series of essays defending the
Constitution.
Alexander Hamilton, James Madison and John Jay were the authors
B. Arguments
1.
2.
3.
New central government would not overpower the states.
Many groups of U.S. citizens, with their many points of view, would
prevent any single group from controlling the government.
Fixed many problems that existed under the Articles of
Confederation.
C. Widely read and printed, and influential in gaining support
for the Constitution
Important Questions
What arguments in favor of the Constitution did the
authors of the Federalist Papers present?
 Protect powers of the states
 No single group would be able to control

government
Was an improvement over the Articles of
Confederation
The Ratification Fight
A. Debate over Approval
1.
2.
Needed only nine states to pass.
Every state except Rhode Island held a special convention to
discuss the Constitution.
B. Process of Ratification
1.
2.
3.
Delaware ratified the Constitution first, in December 1787
Went into effect after the ninth state, New Hampshire, ratified it in
June 1788.
Four remaining states all ratified the Constitution by May 1790.
Important Questions
How many states had to ratify the Constitution before
it went into effect?
 ¾ of the states which is - Nine