The Constitutional Convention of 1787 marked a pivotal moment in American history. Delegates gathered to address the shortcomings of the Articles of Confederation and create a stronger central government. The convention faced challenges in balancing state interests and individual rights.

Key compromises shaped the new Constitution, including the Great Compromise on legislative representation and the Three-Fifths Compromise on counting slaves. These agreements laid the foundation for the U.S. government system and set the stage for ongoing debates about federal power and individual liberties.

Calling the convention

• The Constitutional Convention was called to address the weaknesses and failures of the Articles of Confederation, the first governing document of the United States
• The convention was held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1787 with the goal of revising the Articles of Confederation to create a stronger central government

Failures of Articles of Confederation

• The Articles of Confederation created a weak central government that lacked the power to tax, regulate trade, or enforce laws
• Each state acted independently, leading to economic instability and conflicts between states
• The national government could not effectively respond to internal rebellions or external threats

Shays' Rebellion

• Shays' Rebellion was an armed uprising in Massachusetts in 1786-1787 led by former Revolutionary War captain Daniel Shays
• The rebellion was a response to high taxes, economic depression, and the government's failure to address the grievances of farmers and debtors
• The inability of the national government to effectively respond to the rebellion highlighted the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation

Annapolis Convention

• The Annapolis Convention was a meeting held in Annapolis, Maryland in 1786 to discuss interstate trade issues
• Delegates from only five states attended, leading them to call for a larger convention to revise the Articles of Confederation
• The Annapolis Convention set the stage for the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia the following year

Key delegates

• The Constitutional Convention brought together 55 delegates from 12 states (Rhode Island did not send delegates) to draft a new constitution for the United States
• The delegates were some of the most prominent political leaders and thinkers of the time, including several Founding Fathers

James Madison

• James Madison, a delegate from Virginia, is often called the "Father of the Constitution" for his significant role in drafting and promoting the document
• Madison came to the convention well-prepared, having studied the history of governments and confederacies
• He was a strong advocate for a federal government with checks and balances to prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful

George Washington

• George Washington, the former Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army during the American Revolution, was unanimously elected as the president of the Constitutional Convention
• Washington's presence lent credibility and authority to the convention, as he was widely respected and trusted by the American people
• Although he rarely participated in debates, his support for the Constitution was crucial in its ratification

Benjamin Franklin

• Benjamin Franklin, at 81 years old, was the oldest delegate at the Constitutional Convention
• Franklin was a respected statesman, inventor, and diplomat, and his wisdom and experience were highly valued by the other delegates
• He played a key role in mediating disputes and finding compromises between opposing factions

Virginia Plan

• The Virginia Plan, proposed by James Madison and presented by Edmund Randolph, called for a strong national government with a bicameral legislature and representation based on population
• The plan aimed to address the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation by giving the national government more power and authority

Bicameral legislature

• The Virginia Plan proposed a bicameral legislature, consisting of an upper house (Senate) and a lower house (House of Representatives)
• Members of the lower house would be elected directly by the people, while the upper house would be chosen by the lower house from candidates nominated by state legislatures
• This structure was designed to balance the interests of the people and the states

Representation based on population

• Under the Virginia Plan, representation in both houses of the legislature would be based on each state's population
• This proposal favored the larger states, as they would have more representatives and therefore more power in the national government
• Smaller states opposed this plan, fearing that they would be dominated by the larger states

New Jersey Plan

• The New Jersey Plan, proposed by William Paterson, was a response to the Virginia Plan and aimed to protect the interests of smaller states
• This plan called for a weaker national government with a unicameral legislature and equal representation for all states

Unicameral legislature

• The New Jersey Plan proposed a unicameral legislature, consisting of a single legislative body
• Each state would have an equal number of representatives, regardless of population size
• This structure was similar to the one under the Articles of Confederation, which gave each state one vote in Congress

Equal representation for states

• Under the New Jersey Plan, each state would have equal representation in the unicameral legislature
• This proposal favored the smaller states, as they would have the same power as larger states in the national government
• Larger states opposed this plan, arguing that it was unfair and did not reflect the differences in population and economic importance between states

Great Compromise

• The Great Compromise, also known as the Connecticut Compromise, was a solution proposed by Roger Sherman to resolve the dispute between the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan
• The compromise combined elements of both plans to create a bicameral legislature with proportional representation in one house and equal representation in the other

House of Representatives vs Senate

• The Great Compromise established a bicameral legislature consisting of the House of Representatives and the Senate
• The House of Representatives would be elected directly by the people, with the number of representatives for each state based on its population
• The Senate would have equal representation, with each state having two senators chosen by their respective state legislatures

Proportional vs equal representation

• The House of Representatives would have proportional representation, meaning that states with larger populations would have more representatives
• The Senate would have equal representation, with each state having the same number of senators regardless of population size
• This compromise satisfied both large and small states, as it balanced the interests of population and state equality in the national legislature

Three-Fifths Compromise

• The Three-Fifths Compromise was a solution to the dispute over how to count slaves for the purpose of representation and taxation
• This compromise was reached between delegates from northern and southern states, who had differing views on slavery and its role in the nation's political system

Counting slaves for representation

• Under the Three-Fifths Compromise, three-fifths of a state's slave population would be counted for the purpose of determining representation in the House of Representatives
• This meant that southern states, which had large slave populations, would have more representatives in Congress than if slaves were not counted at all
• However, slaves themselves had no voting rights and were not considered citizens

Balancing power between North and South

• The Three-Fifths Compromise was an attempt to balance power between northern and southern states
• By counting a portion of the slave population, southern states gained more representation in Congress, which helped to protect their interests, particularly regarding slavery
• The compromise also addressed taxation, as direct taxes would be apportioned based on the same three-fifths ratio, which was seen as a concession to the southern states

Commerce and Slave Trade Compromise

• The Commerce and Slave Trade Compromise was another agreement reached between northern and southern states regarding the regulation of commerce and the slave trade
• This compromise addressed the competing economic interests of the two regions and the moral concerns surrounding slavery

Federal regulation of commerce

• The Commerce Compromise gave the federal government the power to regulate interstate and international commerce
• This was a victory for northern states, which wanted a strong central government that could promote and protect their commercial interests
• Southern states were concerned that federal regulation of commerce could be used to interfere with the slave trade and the institution of slavery

Slave trade protection until 1808

• As part of the compromise, the Constitution prohibited Congress from banning the importation of slaves until 1808
• This provision was a concession to southern states, which wanted to ensure a continued supply of enslaved labor for their agricultural economy
• After 1808, Congress would have the power to ban the international slave trade, but not the domestic slave trade within the United States

Ratification process

• After the Constitutional Convention, the proposed Constitution had to be ratified by at least nine out of the thirteen states to become the law of the land
• The ratification process sparked a heated debate between supporters and opponents of the Constitution, known as Federalists and Anti-Federalists

Federalists vs Anti-Federalists

• Federalists supported the Constitution and a strong central government, believing that it was necessary for the survival and prosperity of the nation
• Anti-Federalists opposed the Constitution, arguing that it gave too much power to the central government and threatened individual liberties and state sovereignty
• The debate between Federalists and Anti-Federalists shaped the political landscape of the early United States

The Federalist Papers

• The Federalist Papers were a series of 85 essays written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay under the pseudonym "Publius"
• These essays were published in newspapers to promote the ratification of the Constitution and address the concerns raised by Anti-Federalists
• The Federalist Papers provided a detailed explanation and defense of the Constitution's principles and provisions, and they remain an important source for understanding the intentions of the Founding Fathers

Bill of Rights

• To secure the support of Anti-Federalists and address concerns about individual liberties, Federalists promised to add a Bill of Rights to the Constitution after ratification
• The Bill of Rights, consisting of the first ten amendments to the Constitution, was proposed by Congress in 1789 and ratified by the states in 1791
• The Bill of Rights guarantees essential freedoms, such as freedom of speech, religion, and the right to bear arms, and it places limits on government power to protect individual rights