The CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION and Debates Over RATIFICATION [APUSH Review Unit 3 Topic 8] Period 3

Constitutional Convention: A Turning Point in American Governance

Introduction to the Constitutional Convention

• The video introduces the topic of the Constitutional Convention, following a discussion on the Articles of Confederation and its failures.

• The main question addressed is about differing ideological positions regarding the structure and function of the new federal government.

Context and Purpose

• In response to Shays’s Rebellion, 55 delegates convened in Philadelphia in 1787 to address weaknesses in the Articles of Confederation.

• Delegates debated whether to amend the existing constitution or create an entirely new one, ultimately opting for a new Constitution under influential figures like James Madison and Alexander Hamilton.

Representation Debates

Virginia Plan vs. New Jersey Plan

• The Virginia Plan proposed a strong centralized government with a bicameral legislature based on state population, favoring larger states.

• In contrast, the New Jersey Plan called for equal representation for each state in a unicameral legislature, appealing to smaller states.

Contentious Nature of Representation

• An analogy involving families choosing dinner illustrates how representation debates mirrored real power struggles between large and small states.

• The Great Compromise emerged from negotiations, establishing a bicameral legislature: House of Representatives based on population and Senate with equal representation (two votes per state).

Slavery and Representation Controversy

Counting Enslaved People

• Another significant debate arose over whether enslaved individuals would be counted for representation purposes in Congress.

The Formation of Compromises in Early American Governance

Key Compromises Established

• The Three-Fifths Compromise was introduced, allowing three-fifths of the enslaved population to be counted for representation purposes.

• Southern delegates sought assurances regarding slavery, leading to an agreement to postpone any ban on slavery until 1808.

• Voting procedures were established: House members would be directly elected by the people for two-year terms, while Senators would be chosen by state legislatures for six-year terms.

Electoral Process and Presidential Election

• The president would not be elected directly by the populace but through an Electoral College, where electors from each state vote based on their population.

• Delegates believed that a small group of electors was better suited to select a qualified presidential candidate than the general public.

Ratification Debate: Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists

• Following the convention's conclusion, two factions emerged: Federalists, who supported ratification, and Anti-Federalists, who opposed it due to concerns over central government power.

• Prominent Federalists like Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay authored essays known as the Federalist Papers to advocate for ratification.

Concerns Over Individual Liberties

• Anti-Federalists argued against ratification because they felt it concentrated too much power in the federal government without protections for individual liberties; notably, there was no Bill of Rights included in the Constitution.

Outcome of Ratification Efforts