Chapter 5
Section2
Drafting and Ratifying the
Constitution
Pages 142-148
Objectives
• 1. Explain how the Virginia Plan called for a
stronger federal government.
• 2. Understand the major compromises that
were reflected in the Constitution.
• 3. Discuss why the Antifederalists opposed the
Constitution, and how the Federalists
responded.
• 4. Recount why all 13 states ratified the
Constitution.
The Call to Philadelphia
May 14, 1787: Constitutional Convention was scheduled in
Philadelphia. The Convention was called to strengthen the
government.
May 25, 1787: enough delegates had arrived to proceed. The
delegates met in what is now Independence Hall
[Pennsylvania’s State House].
The delegates agreed to keep the proceedings secret. They all
agreed that debate would flow more freely. Delegates
were wealthy, well educated, businessmen, planters,
bankers, and many had studied law. Some delegates
missed the Convention. Thomas Jefferson and John Adams
were representing America in Europe. Patrick Henry didn’t
attend, because he thought the delegates were plotting to
take away state’s rights.
Federal Power Versus States’ Rights
• Governor Edmund Randolph of Virginia
introduced the Virginia Plan, drafted by James
Madison. He believed that Federalism, or
division of powers between a strong central
government and the states.
• Madison’s leadership at the convention
earned him the nickname, “ father of the
Constitution.”
The Virginia Plan
• The Virginia Plan gave Congress the rights to overturn state laws,
tax the states, and “call froth the force of the Union against any
[state]…failing to fulfill its duty.” Many delegates were concerned
about the moving away from states’ sovereignty.
• Called for three branches of government: executive, legislative, and
judicial. Legislative branch would be bicameral-two houses. Citizens
would vote on the lower house, who would choose members of
upper house. State populations would determine the number of
representatives in each house. Of course larger and smaller states’
disagreed about representation.
• William Patterson of New Jersey: Proposed the New Jersey Plan
which proposed a unicameral-one house legislature each state
having one vote. The federal government would have the power to
tax and regulate commerce. The Convention declined the New
Jersey Plan and continued to debate the Virginia Plan.
Compromise at the Convention
The Great Compromise:
a. Granted each state an equal voice in the
upper house regardless of size
b. accorded representation in the lower house
based on population
The Three-Fifths Compromise:
a. Established that three fifths of a state’s slave
population would count in determining its
representation
Commerce Compromise:
a. Established that Congress could levy tariffs on imports,
but not exports
b. allowed the importation of slaves until the end of 1807
Completing the Constitution:
July 26, 1787: committee of five delegates began the task of
drafting the Constitution.
August 6, 1787: presented to the full Convention and debated.
Another committee prepared the finished document.
September 17, 1787: committee presented final version of the
Constitution to the delegates. Handwritten by Governor
Morris of Pennsylvania. Constitution went to Congress
and then to states for ratification.
The Constitution and Slavery
• Although the Constitution protected slavery in
several of its provisions, it used curiously indirect
wording to discuss that institution. For example,
the provision that allowed slaveholders the right
to pursue runaway slaves across state lines read
“No Person held to Service of Labour in one
State…escaping into another, shall be discharged
from such Service or Labour.” In fact, the word
slavery appeared nowhere in the Constitution
until the Thirteenth Amendment abolished
slavery in 1865.
Activity
Choose a partner to work with on this activity.
Create a three-column chart on paper with
headings Federalists, Antifederalists, and Why
the Constitution Was Ratified.
Task: Explain why the Federalists favored
ratification and the Antifederalists opposed it.
Create a political poster in support of the
Federalist or Antifederalist position
The Ratification Struggle
• Individual rights was an issue when it came to
ratification. U.S. Constitution did not contain
a bill of rights or a document describing the
civil liberties or individual rights. The lack of a
bill of rights outraged the Antifederalists,
some refused to support ratification. The
debates were bitter and heated by both sides.
When the Constitution was ratified most
Americans supported the outcome.