Topic 4 Lesson 2

James Madison

(1751-1836) was a Patriot who represented Virginia in the Continental Congress. In 1787, he participated in the Constitutional Convention and was a leading voice in replacing the Articles of Confederation with a new plan for government. For his part in winning passage of the 1787 Constitution, he became known as the Father of the Constitution. Madison went on to serve as Thomas Jefferson's secretary of state and then to become the fourth president of the United States.

Alexander Hamilton

(1755/57-1804) was born in the British West Indies and went to New York to pursue his studies. There, he became involved in the Patriot cause and wrote three pamphlets supporting the Continental Congress's position on British trade policies. Hamilton fought during the American Revolution and served with George Washington. After the war, he studied law and went on to serve as a Pennsylvania delegate to the Constitutional Convention. Later, he became the first Secretary of the Treasury of the United States.

Why was the Constitutional Convention "shrouded in secrecy"?

So the delegates could speak freely and privately.

What was special about the group of men that met at the Constitutional Convention?

- all white males - many were wealthy - more than half were lawyers - 7 had been state governors - 21 had fought in the American Revolution - 8 signed the Declaration of Independence

Did the Great Compromise draw more from the Virginia Plan or the New Jersey Plan? Cite evidence to explain your answer.

- congress have 2 houses - equal representation (2 senators) in the Senate - House of Representatives (representation is based on population) - bicameral legislature more from the Virginia Plan

Compare and Contrast the views of Alexander Hamilton and James Madison.

Alexander Hamilton - conservative principles - disliked democracy - praised British constitution - insisted that a balanced government should have aristocracy, monarchy, republicism - government should have real power to command citizens and impress foreign empires James Madison - only a strong nation could rescue the states from their own democratic excesses - favored republicism - government = strong and republican - insisted that a large republic with diverse interests would best preserve the common good

Most delegates to the Constitutional Convention agreed that

Congress should have the power to tax

How did the Three-Fifths Compromise affect the institution of slavery in subsequent years?

It forbade Congress from blocking the importation of slaves for twenty years. By 1808, 100,000 slaves would be imported to Georgia and South Carolina.

Virginia Plan

James Madison's proposal for a bicameral legislature with representation based on population

What is a stalemate? Why did the delegates want to prevent a stalemate in the Constitutional Convention?

Stalemate is a situation in which neither side in a n arguement or contest can win o r in which no progress is possible. If there was a stalemate then nothing would be accomplished.

Why didn't the Constitution say that all men were born free and equal?

The Constitution forbade Congress from blocking the importation of slaves for twenty years. The compromise known as the Three- Fifths counted each slave as three-fifths of a person to be added to a state's free population in allocating representatives to the House of Representatives and electoral college votes. The Constitutions committed all states to return fugitive slaves to their owners.

What weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation did the Constitutional Convention hope to address?

The wanted the Congress to have more power to regulate interstate and international commerce. Also, for the Congress to tax the people.

What major issue did the Great Compromise and the Three-Fifths Compromise both address?

representation

Consider the men who gathered for the Constitutional Convention. What were the possible strengths and weaknesses of this group?

strengths - educated, some were state governors weaknesses - all came from the same class and lifestyle

Discuss the similarities and differences between the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan. Include information about who presented each plan and how the plan imagined the president, the legislature, and the power of the federal and state governments. Then, write a * by any part of either plan that has lasted until today.

Virginia Plan - James Madison - bicameral legislature with house of Representatives and Senate - represented based on population - 3 branches: legislature, executive, judicial, executive - national Congress would have power to veto any state law - strong President (office = 7 years but could not be reelected) - President would command the armed forces and manage foreign relations + appoint all executive/ judicial officers, subject only to approval by the Senate New Jersey Plan - William Paterson - unicameral legislature - each state has 1 vote - Congress has power to regulate commerce + tax but kept 3 chief principles of the Articles of Confederation - preserved executive committee rather than adopting a singular President - states remained sovereign except for those few powers specifically granted to the national government - U.S. would be a loose confederation similarities -

New Jersey Plan

William Paterson's proposal for a unicameral legislature with each state having one vote

Great Compromise

a compromise between the Virginia and New Jersey plans for a bicameral legislature; each state would have equal representation in the Senate and varied representation, based on the state's population, in the House of Representatives

Three-Fifths Compromise

a compromise in which each enslaved person in a state would be counted as three fifths of a person for the purposes of legislative representation

federalism

a political system in which power is shared between the national government and state governments