The Summer of 1787:
Inside the Constitutional
Convention
Agenda
•
•
•
•
The Purpose
The Setting
The Delegates
Origins of the
Constitution
• The Debates /
Compromises
• The Outcomes
• Mrs. K in Philly
Why they came…
• Second attempt at revising the Articles of
Confederation ( 1st - Annapolis – 1786)
– States refused to comply with pieces of the
Articles of Confederation
- State legislatures dominated by dominant,
unjust, and overbearing majorities
– Union Govt. hands tied (according to Articles,
religion and commerce (trade) were left to
states, Feds could not: collect taxes, defend
country, pay public debt)
The Setting - Philadelphia
• Hot and Muggy
Summer
• Largest and most
diverse city in the US
(43,000 people)
• Living conditions
• Independence Hall
– Windows, doors, and
streets
Independence Hall 1787
The Delegates
Delegate Facts:
Important MIA’S
• 74 delegates
– RHODE ISLAND
appointed to come
– Patrick Henry
• 55 attended
– Thomas Jefferson
throughout the
– John Adams
summer
• Age range – 26 – 81 – Samuel Adams
Jonathon Dayton 26
Ben Franklin 81
• Strong Credentials:
Jefferson
J. Adams
– Lawyers, congress,
war heroes
Henry
S. Adams
George Washington
• Resistant to attend
Convention
• President of the
Convention
• Interesting
Personality
• Importance of his
presence
James Madison (Jemmy)
• “The Early Bird”
• Personality
• Devoted his life to
public service
• Written accounts
• Major contributions
“Father of the
Constitution”
• Federalist Papers
Alexander Hamilton
• Personality
• Absences from the
convention
• Committee of Style
• Played a huge role in
the ratification
process by the states
• “Federalist Papers”
Benjamin Franklin
• Most influential citizen
of Philadelphia
• International
assignments “A
citizen around the
world”
• Wealthy, had visions
• Gave long winded,
dramatic speeches
Gouverneur Morris
• Personality and
appearance
• The “Speechmaker”
(173 total!)
• Contributions to the
convention
• Committee of Style
Unsung Heroes
• Edmund Randolf
– Presented the Virginia
Plan which in turn
gave us 3 branches of
Govt. with Checks and
Balances.
– Committee of Detail
• Oliver Elsworth
– The Great
Compromise
suggested on July 12
– Loosened the
deadlock of the issues
so they could continue
Origins of the Constitution
Origins - Explained
• Ancient Athens- direct Democracy, limited to men
• Magna Carta- 1215 – Rights – jury trial, protection of
property, limits on taxes, some religious freedom (at the
time they were for the rich, here they are for ALL)
• English Bill of Rights- 1688 Guaranteed rights – laws
pass through elected officials, right to petition govt, army in
peace time, bear arms, cruel & unjust punishment
• Mayflower Compact- 1620 – Government would
make “Just Laws and Equal” with consent of colonists
• John Locke- 1632-1704 – “Inalienable Rights” – life,
liberty, property. Govt. is there to protect these rights. If
they don’t do this, people then had the right to replace it.
Arguments and Compromises
• Despite the greatness in leadership, the
crafting of a new constitution proved a
long and difficult task. Regional, political
and economic differences threatened to
jeopardize the process. It was only by
carefully crafted compromise that a final
document was achieved.
Why was it so hard???
The Great Compromise
One of the first issues to be
resolved was representation to
the new government. The
Articles of Confederation had
allowed each state equal
representation and equal say,
despite size or population and
this did not sit well with the
largest states (Virginia, New
York, Pennsylvania). The
smaller states feared losing
say in the federal government
and so continued to support
equality in representation.
Their Feelings on Slavery
• Delegates saw slavery as
a “necessary evil”
• 35 of 55 delegates owned
slaves
• Some states in the
process of “phasing out”
slavery
• The word “SLAVERY”
doesn’t appear in the
constitution
• 3 issues about Slavery
that were dealt with at the
convention:
– 3/5 Compromise – not
about humanity, more
about taxable property and
representation
– Slave Trade – 2 states
didn’t want to eliminate it
(SC and GA)
– Article IV, Sec. 2 – Fugitive
Slave Clause. Northern
states now (re)involved in
slavery without having
slavery itself
3/5 Compromise
A fundamental economic and
social division began to erupt
over the issue of slavery. The
southern, agriculturally based
states relied heavily on slavery
and slaves constituted a
significant portion of their
populations. The northern
states opposed counting
slaves for representation in
government because they
were not citizens and their
population could easily be
increased, tipping control of
the federal legislature to the
southern states.
The Trade (Commerce)
Compromise
• Again a regional disagreement
arose, in this case over the
issue of trade and its
regulation. The northern, more
industrial states saw the
regulation of trade by the
federal government as
essential to the smooth
working of a national economy.
The southern states feared
regulation of trade would not
only threaten the sale of
slaves, but also the essential
export of their agricultural
products (chiefly cotton and
tobacco).
1787 – 1807 More slave imported than all of the years
before combined!
The Final Vote
• Ben Franklin - "There are
several parts of this Constitution
which I do not at present approve,
but I am not sure I shall never
approve them. ... I doubt too
whether any other Convention we
can obtain, may be able to make a
better Constitution. ... It therefore
astonishes me, Sir, to find this
system approaching so near to
perfection as it does; and I think it
will astonish our enemies..."
•39 For , 3 Against
(Edmond Randolf, George Mason,
Elbridge Gerry)
Ratifications
• Immediately following the
Constitutional Convention
the delegates to
Philadelphia brought the
newly crafted Constitution
to their home states for
ratification (or approval).
Most states held special
ratification conventions,
with elected officials
representing counties or
regions throughout the
state.
Mrs. K in Philly…
“Signers Hall”
– National Constitution Center
Independence Hall
Elfreth’s Alley
Washington Square
• Washington’s Square
was created to honor
the unknown soldiers
who died under the
command of
Washington during
the Rev. War.
• Ind. Hall was used as
British headquarters
and hospital for
wounded Americans
Christ Church
Founded in 1695 by William Penn’s Charter,
this is where the Episcopal Church was born.
Ben Franklin, Betsy Ross, George
Washington, and John Adams attended
services here.
Ben Franklin’s City
Ben Franklin
was the first
post master
in the US. It
is the only
post office
that doesn’t
fly an
American
Flag
Ben Franklin was
in rough shape
during the
convention, so he
was carried to
and from the
meetings
everyday by
prisoners in this...
This is
Franklin’s
printing office.
He published
newspapers
and pamphlets.
History all around…
Thomas Jefferson and I
The Betsy Ross Home
The Free
Quakers
Credits
• NEH and the National Constitution Center
• Books –
– Miracle at Philadelphia – Catherine Drinker Brown
– The American Revolution – Gordon S. Wood
• Websites –
– http://www.archives.gov/national-archivesexperience/charters/constitution
– http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philadelphia_Convention
– http://www.jmu.edu/madison/gpos225-madison2/adopt.htm
– http://regentsprep.org/regents/ushisgov/themes/government/con
vention.htm
– http://www.sullivan-county.com/bush/constitution.htm
– http://usinfo.state.gov/usa/infousa/facts/democrac/6.htm