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CONSTITUTIONAL
CONVENTION
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1. Revolutionary “regulators”
rebel over owed back pay… Broke
after war!
2. Daniel Shays leads 1000 farmers in
revolt and killed 4 militia men
3. Local militia raised to put down
rebellion
4. Shows that Articles are too weak and
a new government is needed…
Government should be able to put
down a small rebellion.
THE ISSUE OF SLAVERY
• Many northern states banned slavery,
but ex-slaves still faced harsh
discrimination and were separated in
churches, schools, and mutual-aid
societies.
• Some slave owners gradually freed
individual enslaved persons.
• The new country was divided:
should people be allowed to hold
other human beings in bondage?
THE ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION
Created
Convention
Wanted weak
government (or
at least limited
power)
Created a
republic
(citizens rule
through
elected
representatives)
Articles of
Confederation
were created!
THE ARTICLES CREATED ISSUES…
They Could:
They Could Not:
--conduct foreign affairs
--maintain armed forces
--borrow money
--issue currency
--regulate trade
--force citizens to join the army
--TAX
•The states had most of the power, creating a weak national
government.
•They needed a stronger national government so they created
the Constitution.
1. Meets in 1787
2. Decides to create
a new government
rather than fix
Articles
3. 12 of the 13 States
send Delegates
I’m Alexander
Hamilton. I’m from
NY and argued for a
strong national
government.
I’m James
Madison from
VA. I am “the
father of the
Constitution”
because I wrote
most of it.
I’m Roger
Sherman of
CT. I think
small states
should not be
overlooked!
Hi! I am George
Washington! I led
the convention as
president but kept
quiet.
I’m Ben Franklin
from PA – I say
states must hold
more power!
I’m George
Mason – we
must not
forget a Bill
of Rights!
THE DELEGATES ASSEMBLE
• Delegates want to create government strong enough
to maintain order
• But also want government that protects people’s
rights.
• George Washington elected president of the
Constitutional Convention.
• Delegates do not want decisions influenced by
political pressures, so they decide that discussions
will remain secret
TWO PLANS: VIRGINIA PLAN AND NEW
JERSEY PLAN
What is the
difference in
these two
states?
The Virginia Plan
Based representation
in Congress on each
state’s population.
Favored by large states
because it gave them
more power.
The NJ Plan
Representation in
Congress is equal
for all states.
Favored by small
states because it
gave them more
power.
Great Compromise
• Solves debate between large and small states
• Senate – 2 per state
• House of Representatives - based on population
3/5ths Compromise
• Placated the Southern states
• Counts slaves as 3/5 of a person
for state population
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