8.

11 The Convention Ends

Approving the Constitution
• 9 states had to ratify (approve) the
Constitution before it could go into effect.
• It would be ratified by state delegates elected
by the people at a special convention.
 Signing the Constitution

• 38 of 55 delegates signed the Constitution

 8.12 The Constitution Goes To The Nation

Federalists
• Federalists were supporters of the new Constitution.
• James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay were the most
prominent Federalist, they wrote the Federalist Papers.
• Tried to ease people’s fears about a strong federal government by
emphasizing that there were 3 branches of government and that
powers were limited.
 The Anti-Federalists

• The Anti-Federalists were against the new Constitution.

• Complaints against the Constitution:
1. Taxes
2. President would rule like a king
3. Judicial branch would overpower state courts
4. Giving up state power to national government
 8.13 Summary
• Articles of Confederation: weak; loose union of the states.
• Shays Rebellion shocks Congress into calling for a convention.
• Enter the Constitutional Convention.
• 3 Major issues facing the delegates: representation; how to count slaves; how to choose an
executive (president).
• Representation: based on population (Virginia Plan), or, based on state (New Jersey Plan).
Decided on using both in two houses of Congress—The Great Compromise.
• How to count slaves: South-wanted slaves counted as people; North-wanted slaves counted
as property. Decided on 3/5 Compromise; each slave would be counted and taxed as 3/5 of a
person.
• How to choose an executive: Decided on the electoral college. State governments would
appoint electors to vote for the president. Today, we vote for electors.
• The convention ends and the Constitution needs to be ratified (approved) by 9 states. It is
ratified by all 13.
• Federalists: Supporters of the new Constitution
• Anti-Federalists: Opponents of the New Constitution.