Founding Fathers Call for a New
Government
• Question:
– Why?
– What was wrong with
the AOC?
Shays' Rebellion
August 1786-January 1787
• Daniel Shays leads armed
rebellion against state officials
– What is the issue?
• Farmers were being kicked off
their land for not paying off
their debts to state
governments!
– What happens?
• Farmers start killing state
officials.
What did Shay’s Rebellion prove?
• Nothing..
– However, people are beginning to ask
• “How were we able to beat the world’s largest empire
to gain independence but could not keep order in
peacetime???”
• We need a new government!! A strong government!!
– This gets the states to go to Philly, PA in 1787
Onward to Philly…
Constitutional Convention, May 1787
• By this time,
– It is clear that the AOC does not work
• Goal:
– Make a new government!
• Based off a new constitution.
– Items to fix:
» Representation in Congress/Government
» Role of slavery
First Issue:
Representation in Congress/Government
• Legislative Branch
– Most important branch!
• But how do you make sure each state is represented
fairly?
– Think Rhode Island vs. Virginia!
• Two plans emerge:
– Virginia Plan
– New Jersey Plan
The Two Plans for Congress
• Virginia Plan
• NJ Plan
– # of representatives
from each state is
determined by
population of state!
– # of representatives from
each state is equal
– Called “Big State Plan”
– Called “Small State Plan”
• Regardless of size of
population.
– So what do you do?
The Great Compromise
• Connecticut…of all states….comes to the
rescue.
– Comes up with Compromise of both plans
• Answer: Make Congress bicameral!
– House of Representatives:
» Based on population!
– Senate:
» Equal # of members per state!
» Perfect solution….right?
What about slaves?
• Should slaves count as part of the population?
– South says yes!
– North says no!
• So what do we do?
• Can we compromise again?
3/5 Compromise.
• For every 5 slaves owned, they count as 3
people in the census.
– South agrees that this is enough AS LONG AS
SLAVES DON’T GET TO VOTE!
– North does not agree, but want a government
that works….and this is the best we got!
Now it’s time to write out the
constitution itself…