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

Summary

In this episode of Heimler's History, the focus is on the Constitutional Convention of 1787 and the creation of the U.S. Constitution. The video explores the ideological battles over the structure of the federal government, leading to the Virginia and New Jersey Plans for representation. It discusses the Great Compromise, the Three-Fifths Compromise, and the contentious debate between slave and free states. The summary also touches on the election process for the House of Representatives, Senate, and President. Finally, it outlines the ratification struggle between Federalists and Anti-Federalists, culminating in the addition of the Bill of Rights.

Takeaways

• 📜 The video discusses the creation of the U.S. Constitution as a response to the failures of the Articles of Confederation.
• 🏛️ The Constitutional Convention of 1787 in Philadelphia aimed to address the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation.
• 🤔 The main debate at the convention was over the structure and function of the new federal government, particularly the representation in Congress.
• 🗣️ Two key proposals for representation were the Virginia Plan, advocating for a bicameral legislature with representation based on population, and the New Jersey Plan, which suggested equal representation for all states.
• 🔄 The Great Compromise resolved the debate by proposing a bicameral legislature with the House of Representatives based on population and the Senate with equal representation for each state.
• ⚖️ The Three-Fifths Compromise allowed for three-fifths of the enslaved population to be counted for representation purposes, while also delaying the ban on slavery until 1808.
• 🗳️ The Constitution outlined the election process for national representatives, with the House of Representatives elected directly by the people and the Senate by state legislatures.
• 🏆 The election of the president was to be determined by the electoral college, a system where states select electors who then vote for the president.
• 🤝 Ratification required agreement from nine out of thirteen states, leading to the formation of the Federalists, who supported the Constitution, and the Anti-Federalists, who opposed it.
• 📚 The Federalist Papers, a series of essays by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay, were written to persuade states to ratify the Constitution.
• 🏛️ The Constitution was ratified in 1788 after the Federalists agreed to add a Bill of Rights to address Anti-Federalist concerns about individual liberties.

Q & A

What was the main purpose of the Constitutional Convention in 1787?

The main purpose of the Constitutional Convention in 1787 was to address the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation and to create a new Constitution that would provide a stronger federal government.

What were the two main proposals for representation in the new federal government discussed at the Convention?

The two main proposals for representation were the Virginia Plan, which called for a bicameral legislature with representation based on population, and the New Jersey Plan, which proposed a unicameral legislature with equal representation for each state.

What was the Great Compromise and how did it resolve the debate over representation?

The Great Compromise proposed a bicameral legislature consisting of a House of Representatives, where states would be represented by population, and a Senate, where each state would have equal representation with two votes.

What was the Three-Fifths Compromise and why was it significant?

The Three-Fifths Compromise stated that three-fifths of the enslaved population could be counted for purposes of representation in the House of Representatives. It was significant because it was a contentious issue that allowed for the continuation of the Convention and eventual ratification of the Constitution.

Why did the southern states want to count enslaved people for representation purposes?

The southern states wanted to count enslaved people for representation purposes to increase their political power and influence in the federal government, as representation was tied to population size.

How were members of the House of Representatives and the Senate elected according to the new Constitution?

Members of the House of Representatives were to be elected directly by the people for two-year terms, while members of the Senate were to be elected by state legislatures for six-year terms.

How was the President to be elected under the new Constitution?

The President was to be elected by an electoral college, where each state chose a number of electors based on their population, and those electors would then vote for the President.

What were the main concerns of the Anti-Federalists regarding the new Constitution?

The Anti-Federalists were concerned that the new Constitution gave too much power to the central government at the expense of the states and that it lacked provisions for the protection of individual liberties, such as a Bill of Rights.

What were the Federalist Papers and why were they significant?

The Federalist Papers were a series of essays written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay, advocating for the ratification of the Constitution. They explained the nature of the Constitution and argued for its necessity, and they are significant because they influenced public opinion and helped secure ratification.

What was the final outcome of the debate over ratification of the Constitution?

The Federalists won the debate over ratification, partly through persuasion and organization, and partly by conceding to add a Bill of Rights once the Constitution was ratified. By mid-1788, the required nine states had ratified the Constitution, making it the governing document of the United States.