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Drafting the Federal Drafting the Federal Constitution Constitution

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Shay's RebellionShay's Rebellion Poor Massachusetts farmers rebelled Poor Massachusetts farmers rebelled

because they were seeking;because they were seeking; equitable political representationequitable political representation tax reformtax reform The abolition of imprisonment for debtThe abolition of imprisonment for debt

It was led by Daniel Shay and primarily It was led by Daniel Shay and primarily consisted of posturing and parading consisted of posturing and parading through towns and villages.through towns and villages.

The rebels were able to operate largely The rebels were able to operate largely unimpeded through much of the fall and unimpeded through much of the fall and winter of 1786 and 1787. winter of 1786 and 1787.

A militia defeated the main body of A militia defeated the main body of rebels, largely ending the rebellion. rebels, largely ending the rebellion.

Shay and other rebel leaders fled to Shay and other rebel leaders fled to Vermont, where they were captured and Vermont, where they were captured and sentenced to be hanged.sentenced to be hanged.

They were later pardoned by They were later pardoned by Massachusetts Governor John Hancock.Massachusetts Governor John Hancock.

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Mt. Vernon ConferenceMt. Vernon Conference In 1785 representatives from In 1785 representatives from

Maryland and Virginia met at Maryland and Virginia met at the Mt. Vernon estate of the Mt. Vernon estate of George Washington to discuss George Washington to discuss a trade dispute involving the a trade dispute involving the navigation of the Potomac navigation of the Potomac River. River.

The delegates resolved far The delegates resolved far broader issues of trade and broader issues of trade and mutual policy between the two mutual policy between the two states. states.

The General Assembly of The General Assembly of Virginia proposed a broader Virginia proposed a broader trade conclave to be held in trade conclave to be held in Annapolis, Maryland the Annapolis, Maryland the following year. following year. Washington’s Mt. Vernon EstateWashington’s Mt. Vernon Estate

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Annapolis Convention Annapolis Convention Some Americans began Some Americans began

contemplating radical contemplating radical changes because they were changes because they were unhappy with the impotence unhappy with the impotence of the of the Articles of Articles of ConfederationConfederation. .

The Annapolis Convention The Annapolis Convention was organized to address was organized to address issues related to commerce.issues related to commerce.

James Madison and James Madison and Alexander Hamilton used Alexander Hamilton used the meeting to advocate a the meeting to advocate a new form of federal new form of federal government.government.

The Maryland State House above was the The Maryland State House above was the site of the Annapolis Conventionsite of the Annapolis Convention

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Constitutional ConventionConstitutional Convention 74 delegates were selected, but 74 delegates were selected, but

only 55 eventually came to only 55 eventually came to Philadelphia for the convention.Philadelphia for the convention.

George Washington was elected George Washington was elected president of the convention. president of the convention.

Talk quickly shifted from ways to Talk quickly shifted from ways to modify the Articles of modify the Articles of Confederation to ways to replace Confederation to ways to replace the Articles. the Articles.

Debate centered on a democratic Debate centered on a democratic plan offered by Virginia and a plan offered by Virginia and a more constrained plan offered by more constrained plan offered by New Jersey.New Jersey.

Secrecy was paramount to the Secrecy was paramount to the delegates, because of this little is delegates, because of this little is known about happened inside of known about happened inside of the convention.the convention.

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The Virginia Plan The Virginia Plan James Madison argued that no James Madison argued that no

confederacy could endure if it acted upon confederacy could endure if it acted upon states only and not directly upon states only and not directly upon individuals. individuals.

He outlined a new system of He outlined a new system of government, the basis of the "Virginia government, the basis of the "Virginia Plan" presented in the convention by Plan" presented in the convention by Edmund Jennings Randolph. Edmund Jennings Randolph.

That Madison and Randolph were able to That Madison and Randolph were able to enter the Constitutional Convention with enter the Constitutional Convention with a plan of government conferred an a plan of government conferred an enormous political advantage. enormous political advantage.

The Virginia Plan became the basis for The Virginia Plan became the basis for the early debate on a new structure of the early debate on a new structure of government.government.

James MadisonJames Madison

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The New Jersey Plan The New Jersey Plan New Jersey delegate New Jersey delegate

William Paterson William Paterson introduced a competing introduced a competing plan designed to protect plan designed to protect the power of the small the power of the small states.states.

Paterson’s plan Paterson’s plan maintained many aspects maintained many aspects of the Articles of of the Articles of Confederation.Confederation.

It also gave equal It also gave equal representation in the representation in the legislature to all states legislature to all states regardless of population .regardless of population .

William PatersonWilliam Paterson

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The Great Compromise The Great Compromise The Constitutional Convention The Constitutional Convention

was deadlocked between was deadlocked between supporters of the two plans. supporters of the two plans.

The larger states preferred the The larger states preferred the Virginia Plan while, the smaller Virginia Plan while, the smaller states preferred the New Jersey states preferred the New Jersey Plan. Plan.

Connecticut delegate Roger Connecticut delegate Roger Sherman Roger Sherman Sherman Roger Sherman eventually proposed a eventually proposed a compromise that was acceptable compromise that was acceptable to both factions. to both factions.

The Great Compromise, retained The Great Compromise, retained the bicameral legislature the bicameral legislature envisioned by Madison, but envisioned by Madison, but apportioned the lower house by apportioned the lower house by population and granted equal population and granted equal representation to all states in the representation to all states in the upper house. upper house.

Roger ShermanRoger Sherman

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3/5 Compromise 3/5 Compromise With it decided that the lower With it decided that the lower

house would be apportioned by house would be apportioned by population another difficulty population another difficulty arose for the convention. arose for the convention.

Slave states wanted their Slave states wanted their slaves counted as population, slaves counted as population, despite having denied them all despite having denied them all political rights. political rights.

Free states saw this as Free states saw this as unacceptable because slave unacceptable because slave states would be able to states would be able to dominate the congress.dominate the congress.

James Wilson proposed that all James Wilson proposed that all unfree labor should count as unfree labor should count as 3/5 of a person for 3/5 of a person for apportionment purposes. apportionment purposes. James WilsonJames Wilson

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Drafting the ConstitutionDrafting the Constitution The new constitution The new constitution

went through several went through several drafts. drafts.

Charles Pinckney Charles Pinckney submitted a plan that had submitted a plan that had considerable influence on considerable influence on the final draft.the final draft.

Alexander Hamilton, a Alexander Hamilton, a known Federalist, was known Federalist, was far-reaching in both his far-reaching in both his influence and his influence and his involvement in the involvement in the process. process.

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The Constitution The Constitution On 17 September 1787, the On 17 September 1787, the

document was presented to the document was presented to the convention and signed by 39 of convention and signed by 39 of the 55 delegates.the 55 delegates.

With the endorsement of the With the endorsement of the convention, the constitution was convention, the constitution was sent to the states for ratification.sent to the states for ratification.

The states were instructed to The states were instructed to either ratify or reject the either ratify or reject the constitution in its entirety.constitution in its entirety.

Contrary to the Articles of Contrary to the Articles of Confederation, which required Confederation, which required unanimous consent from the unanimous consent from the states for any change in the states for any change in the national government, the national government, the constitution required only the constitution required only the consent of 9 states to be ratified. consent of 9 states to be ratified.

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Media CitationsMedia Citations

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Slide 7: http://www.constitution.org/img/william_paterson.jpgSlide 7: http://www.constitution.org/img/william_paterson.jpg Slide 8: http://www.constitution.org/img/roger_sherman.jpg Slide 8: http://www.constitution.org/img/roger_sherman.jpg Slide 9: http://chronicles.dickinson.edu/encyclo/w/wilsonJ.jpg Slide 9: http://chronicles.dickinson.edu/encyclo/w/wilsonJ.jpg Slide 10: http://www.trumanproject.org/images/drafting.jpgSlide 10: http://www.trumanproject.org/images/drafting.jpg Slide 11: Slide 11:

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