CrashCourse: Constitutional Convention/The Great Compromise

Recognizing the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation, Congress called for the states to send delegates to a convention in May 1787 with the original purpose of debating changes to the Articles.

However, what soon became clear was that the issues surrounding the would best be fixed by replacing the Articles of Confederation. By September, the result of months of negotiation and debate was the United States Constitution.

 

Shortened Notes from Video:

*1st American Govt.- AoC, lasted during American Rev. and 10 yrs after

*Issues with AoC- 1- No executive branch (President) 2- No Judiciary branch (fed. courts)

*No power to levy taxes= no way of getting money They had to ask the states who could say no

*1 positive of AoC= Westward Expansion W. Expansion= forbade (no) slavery Issues of representation=

*Big states want more voice; smaller population states want an equal voice. Virginia Plan= States have representation based on pop (benefits states with large pop.) New Jersey Plan= States have equal rep. Bicameral Congress= 2 house representation (House of Rep. and Senate)

*Smaller states pop. free mostly white people, but they have a large # of slaves 3/5 Compromise= Counts all of the free people in the state + slaves as 3/5 of a free person

*People had the chance to have an opinion on whether or not they wanted the Constitution

*Federalists= Want the Constitution. Non-Federalists fear not enough voice of the people 

*Non-Federalists= Support individual liberties (freedoms)

*Compromise of Constitution for Non-Federalists--Bill of Rights= Protect individual freedoms