Constitutional Convention & US Constitution
Constitutional convention of 1787 was caused by economic problems and Shays Rebellion thus a demand for a strong central government.
The Constitutional Convention took place at Pennsylvania State House in Philadelphia
Shays Rebellion: many farmers and land owners were being foreclosed so they went to the courts to settle the disputes but ended up fighting.
Everyone but Rhode Island sent delegates to the Annapolis Convention to discuss amending the Articles of Confederation
74 people where chosen to go
55 delegates participated
only 39 signed the constitution
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They had trouble counting the population with slaves involved
smaller states and lager states were concerned about how many representatives they could have
New Jersey Plan: equal representation, regardless of population size, in Congress
Virginia Plan: bicameral legislation and representation based on population size
They settled on the Connecticut Plan ( or Great Compromise)
The Great Compromise: bicameral legislature with equal representation in the upper house and proportional in the lower house.
They settled on the 3/5th deal where slaves count as 3/5 of the population
signed by people like George Washington, James Madison, and Benjamin Franklin.
After the Articles of Confederation many issues arose
U.S. Constitution includes:
Bill of Rights: the first ten amendments
right to due process, freedom from self incrimination and double jeopardy
right to a speedy and public trial
freedom from unreasonable search and seizure
right of trial by jury in civil cases
no quartering of soldiers
freedom from excessive bail, and cruel and unusual punishment
right to bear arms
enumerated rights
Freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition
power reserved to the states
rest of the constitution covers interactions and rules for the federal government that doesn't directly effect citizens