Changes

It was economics and business concerns that sparked the first series call for a national convention to improve the Articles of Confederation.  In September 1786, nine (9) states accepted Virginia's call for a national convention on the issue of interstate commerce, which was trade between the states.  Under the Articles of Confederation, each state could impose taxes ("tariffs") on goods or merchandise shipped to it from another state, and these "tariff wars" disrupted the free market and impeded economic progress.  But only five (5) states attended this "Annapolis Convention," so it was a failure.  But it did something that proved to be historic:  it called for another constitutional convention to be held in Philadelphia.

It was economics and business concerns that sparked the first series call for a national convention to improve the Articles of Confederation.  In September 1786, nine (9) states accepted Virginia's call for a national convention on the issue of interstate commerce, which was trade between the states.  Under the Articles of Confederation, each state could impose taxes ("tariffs") on goods or merchandise shipped to it from another state, and these "tariff wars" disrupted the free market and impeded economic progress.  But only five (5) states attended this "Annapolis Convention," so it was a failure.  But it did something that proved to be historic:  it called for another constitutional convention to be held in Philadelphia.

The Constitutional Convention convened in the summer of 1787 in Philadelphia to strengthen the national government by modifying the Articles of Confederation.  The Convention was one of the most important events in the history of mankind.

The Constitutional Convention convened in the summer of 1787 (May through September) in Philadelphia to strengthen the national government by modifying the Articles of Confederation.  Note that the original goal was to fix the Articles of Confederation, not to replace them, but once at the convention the [[Founding Fathers]] decided to replace the Articles altogether.  The Convention was one of the most important events in the history of mankind.

Every state sent representatives except Rhode Island.  Some sources claim that Rhode Island's "[[separation of church and state]]" laid the foundation of the Constitution.  But Rhode Island didn't even show up at the Constitutional Convention!

Every state sent representatives except Rhode Island.  Some sources claim that Rhode Island's "[[separation of church and state]]" laid the foundation of the Constitution.  But Rhode Island didn't even show up at the Constitutional Convention!

Dangers aside, the delegates knew that it was their task to write a new constitution.  But what form of government would be sufficiently effective without being corrupted by power?  Two plans attempted to answer this question.

Dangers aside, the delegates knew that it was their task to write a new constitution.  But what form of government would be sufficiently effective without being corrupted by power?  Two plans attempted to answer this question.

The first was submitted by [[Edmund Randolph]] and was called the [[Virginia Plan]], or the Large States Plan because it was favored by the larger states.  Our three branches of government originated in the Virginia Plan.  Unlike the Articles of Confederation, this plan gave government the power to directly enforce laws.  The Virginia land assigned delegates to both houses of Congress based on a state's population.  The Virginia plan contributed much to the finished Constitution, although Edmund Randolph refused to sign it in the end.

The first was submitted by [[Edmund Randolph]] and was called the [[Virginia Plan]], or the Large States Plan because it was favored by the larger states.  Our three branches of government originated in the Virginia Plan.  Unlike the Articles of Confederation, this plan gave government the power to directly enforce laws.  The Virginia Plan assigned delegates to both houses of Congress (a "bicameral" legislature) based on a state's population, and the legislature selected the chief executive (president) and the judges.  The Virginia Plan contributed much to the finished Constitution, although Edmund Randolph refused to sign it in the end.

The [[New Jersey Plan]] departed much less from the Articles of Confederation.  This plan was favored by small states because each state was represented equally in Congress.  This allowed small states to have an equal amount of power.  The Virginia plan, in contrast would have allowed large states much more power that small ones because representation in Congress was based on population.

In June 1787, William Paterson next proposed the [[New Jersey Plan]], which was more favorable to the small states and which departed less from the Articles of Confederation.  This plan was favored by small states because each state was represented equally in Congress.  This allowed small states to have an equal amount of power.  The Virginia plan, in contrast would have allowed large states much more power that small ones because representation in Congress was based on population.

This issue may have been the greatest in the Convention, and for weeks, there was no progress.  Then Benjamin Franklin proposed that each day be opened by prayer.  He said, "In the beginning of the Contest with Great Britain when we were sensible of danger we had daily prayer in this room for the divine protection. - Our prayers, Sir, were heard, and they were graciously answered.... And have we now forgotten that powerful friend?  or do we imagine that we no longer need His assistance?  I have lived, Sir a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth - that God Governs in the affairs of men.  And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probably that an empire can rise without His aid?"  Benjamin Franklin's greatest contribution to the Convention was not his ideas, but his wise advice.

This issue may have been the most difficult to resolve in the entire Convention, and for weeks, there was no progress.  Then Benjamin Franklin proposed that each day be opened by prayer.  He said, "In the beginning of the Contest with Great Britain when we were sensible of danger we had daily prayer in this room for the divine protection. - Our prayers, Sir, were heard, and they were graciously answered.... And have we now forgotten that powerful friend?  or do we imagine that we no longer need His assistance?  I have lived, Sir a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth - that God Governs in the affairs of men.  And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probably that an empire can rise without His aid?"  Benjamin Franklin's greatest contribution to the Convention was not his ideas, but his wise advice.

Franklin's word had an impact when after many weeks of argument, a compromise was reached.  It was called the Great Compromise or the [[Connecticut Compromise]], and resolved that Congress would have one house with equal representation and one house with representation based on population.  This compromise became part of the Constitution, and today we have both Senate and the House of Representatives.

Franklin's word had an impact when after many weeks of argument, a compromise was reached.  In July 1787, Connecticut delegate Roger Sherman proposed the Connecticut Plan, in which representation in the House would be proportional to population, and representation in the Senate would be 1 vote per state.  This became the Great Compromise or the [[Connecticut Compromise]], and resolved that Congress would have one house with equal representation and one house with representation based on population.  This compromise became part of the Constitution (with the change that there would be two votes per state), and today we have both Senate and the House of Representatives.

This compromise reflected the spirit of the Constitutional Convention.  Disagreements arose on a myriad of issues.  Again and again, the delegates compromised, gradually formulating the Constitution that we still use today.

This compromise reflected the spirit of the Constitutional Convention.  Disagreements arose on a myriad of issues.  Again and again, the delegates compromised, gradually formulating the Constitution that we still use today.

The three branches are these:

The three branches are these:

The Legislative Branch makes the laws.  Congress is established in Article I of the Constitution.

The Legislative Branch makes the laws.  Congress is established in Article I of the Constitution. The Executive Branch carries out the laws.  The President's powers are established in Article II. The Judicial Branch interprets the laws.  The Supreme Court is established in Article III.

The Executive Branch carries out the laws.  The President's powers are established in Article II.

The Judicial Branch interprets the laws.  The Supreme Court is established in Article III.

Article IV of the Constitution outlines the relationship between the federal (national) government and the states.   

Article IV of the Constitution outlines the relationship between the federal (national) government and the states.   

Article VII provides for the procedure to ratify the Constitution.

Article VII provides for the procedure to ratify the Constitution.

Many small states ratified the Constitution quickly, because they liked the idea of having equal representation in the Senate.  But bigger states, such as [[Virginia]] and [[New York]], were more reluctant to give up their power to a national government.

Many small states ratified the Constitution quickly, because they liked the idea of having equal representation in the Senate.  But bigger states, such as [[Virginia]] and [[New York]], were more reluctant to give up their power to a national government.

A huge debate followed in some of the states, particularly Virginia and New York.  To persuade New Yorkers to ratify the Constitution, Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay wrote the Federalist papers, which were a series of editorials that ran in a prominent New York newspaper.  Most famous of these is Madison’s Federalist No. 10: “Among the numerous advantages promised by a well constructed Union, none deserves to be more accurately developed than its tendency to break and control the violence of faction.”  Madison’s insight was that a new United States of America, with its large size and separation of powers, could protect freedom against the tyranny of a small group better than individual colonies could.

A huge debate followed in some of the states, particularly Virginia and New York.  To persuade New Yorkers to ratify the Constitution, Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay anonymously wrote the Federalist papers, which were a series of editorials that ran in a prominent New York newspaper.  Most famous of these is Madison’s Federalist No. 10: “Among the numerous advantages promised by a well constructed Union, none deserves to be more accurately developed than its tendency to break and control the violence of faction.”  Madison’s insight was that a new United States of America, with its large size and separation of powers, could protect freedom against the tyranny of a small group better than individual colonies could.

The debate over ratification pitted the Federalists (for example, Alexander Hamilton) against the Anti-Federalists (for example, Patrick Henry).  Federalists supported the ratification of the Constitution.  The Anti-Federalists opposed it, primarily because it lacked a bill of rights.

The debate over ratification pitted the Federalists (for example, Alexander Hamilton) against the Anti-Federalists (for example, Patrick Henry).  Federalists supported the ratification of the Constitution.  The Anti-Federalists opposed it, primarily because it lacked a bill of rights.

North Carolina and Rhode Island, however were more difficult, and did not ratify the Constitution until 1789 and 1790, respectively.   

North Carolina and Rhode Island, however were more difficult, and did not ratify the Constitution until 1789 and 1790, respectively.   

George Washington was elected a few months afterwards as our first president.

George Washington was elected the first President in late 1788, and served from 1789 to 1797.  He was the only revolutionary leader in history to voluntarily give up power, renouncing earthly power for the greater good as Jesus had done.  Washington relied much on his top adviser, Alexander Hamilton, in making decisions and it was Hamilton who wrote the brilliant [[Farewell Address]] of Washington in 1797, which has become one of the most important documents in the nation's history.

==Slavery==

==Slavery==