AP Gov | 1.5 Ratification of the U.S. Constitution | NEW!

Summary

This video delves into the U.S. Constitution's creation, highlighting the pivotal role of compromise. It discusses the Virginia and New Jersey Plans, leading to the Great Compromise which established a bicameral legislature. The Electoral College and the Three-Fifths Compromise are also covered, revealing how they balanced power and representation. The video concludes by noting the Constitution's flexibility for future amendments, emphasizing its enduring relevance.

Takeaways

• 📜 The U.S. Constitution was drafted in 1787 with the initial goal to amend the Articles of Confederation, but it evolved into a replacement document.
• 🤝 The Great Compromise, also known as the Connecticut Compromise, led to a bicameral legislature with the House of Representatives based on population and the Senate with equal representation for each state.
• 🏛️ The Grand Committee was instrumental in negotiating the bicameral legislature, ensuring large states agreed by allowing tax and revenue bills to originate in the House where they had more influence.
• 🤔 The Electoral College was a compromise between direct election of the president by citizens and selection by Congress, resulting in an indirect election process.
• 🔢 The Three-Fifths Compromise controversially counted five slaves as three people for congressional representation, which benefited the South and perpetuated slavery.
• 🚫 The compromise on the importation of slaves allowed the slave trade to continue for 20 years after the Constitution's ratification before it could be banned.
• 📝 The lack of a Bill of Rights was a point of contention raised by Anti-Federalists, leading to James Madison introducing amendments that became the Bill of Rights.
• 🛠 Article 5 of the Constitution provides a process for amending the Constitution, either through a proposal by 2/3 of Congress followed by ratification by 3/4 of the states, or by 2/3 of state legislatures followed by the same ratification process.
• 🌟 The Constitution, while providing a framework, left many issues unresolved and open to interpretation, acknowledging that it was not perfect and allowing for future changes.

Q & A

What was the primary goal of the Constitutional Convention in the summer of 1787?

The primary goal was to amend the Articles of Confederation, but it became clear that James Madison and others had intentions to draft a new constitution.

What were the two main plans discussed at the Constitutional Convention?

The two main plans were the Virginia Plan, which advocated for a stronger central government with a bicameral legislature based on population, and the New Jersey Plan, which proposed maintaining a unicameral legislature with equal representation for each state.

What was the outcome of the Great Compromise, also known as the Connecticut Compromise?

The Great Compromise established a bicameral legislature with the House of Representatives based on population and the Senate with equal representation for each state, each having two senators.

How did the Grand Committee persuade large states to agree to equal representation in the Senate?

They made a deal that all tax and revenue bills must originate in the House of Representatives, where large states had a significant advantage.

What was the Electoral College designed to achieve, and how did it compromise between direct election and congressional selection?

The Electoral College was designed as a compromise between direct election by citizens and selection by Congress, allowing people to vote for electors who then elect the president.

What was the three-fifths compromise, and how did it impact representation in the House and the Electoral College?

The three-fifths compromise stated that for congressional representation purposes, every five slaves would count as three people. This led to the South being over-represented in both the House and the Electoral College.

What was the compromise regarding the importation of slaves, and how long did it last before it could be banned?

The compromise allowed the slave trade to continue for 20 years after the ratification of the Constitution before it could be legally banned.

How did the lack of a Bill of Rights initially impact the debate over the ratification of the Constitution?

The lack of a Bill of Rights was seized upon by Anti-Federalists as a significant issue, leading Madison and Hamilton to eventually relent and introduce amendments that became the Bill of Rights.

What does Article 5 of the Constitution outline, and how does it provide for future changes to the Constitution?

Article 5 outlines the amendment process, providing two methods: one where 2/3 of both houses of Congress propose an amendment, which then needs to be ratified by 3/4 of the states, and another where 2/3 of state legislatures can propose an amendment, which also needs to be ratified by 3/4 of the states.

What does the script suggest about the Constitution's ability to address all issues and disagreements?

The script suggests that while the Constitution provides a framework, it leaves many issues open to interpretation and disagreement, and acknowledges that it did not get everything exactly right.

Outlines

00:00

🏛️ Introduction to the U.S. Constitution and Compromises

The video begins by welcoming viewers to a discussion on the U.S. Constitution, encouraging engagement through likes. It delves into the historical context of the Constitutional Convention of 1787, where the original intent to amend the Articles of Confederation was overshadowed by James Madison's proposal for a new constitution. The video emphasizes the theme of negotiation and compromise, highlighting the Virginia Plan's call for a stronger central government with proportional representation and the New Jersey Plan's preference for equal state representation. A significant focus is on the Great Compromise, which led to a bicameral legislature with the House of Representatives based on population and the Senate with equal representation. The video also touches on the Electoral College as a compromise between direct election and congressional selection, the contentious Three-Fifths Compromise regarding the counting of slaves for representation, and the compromise on the slave trade, which allowed it for 20 years post-ratification. Lastly, it mentions the introduction of the Bill of Rights as a response to Anti-Federalist concerns and concludes by noting the Constitution's flexibility for future amendments.

05:02

🔍 Conclusion and Future Discussion

The second paragraph serves as a conclusion to the video, summarizing the key points discussed and hinting at further exploration of the Constitution's nuances in upcoming videos. It acknowledges the ongoing debates and disagreements over constitutional interpretations and unaddressed issues, emphasizing the document's adaptability and the importance of the amendment process outlined in Article 5. The host signs off by promoting the Ultimate Review Packet as a resource for viewers and expresses anticipation for the next installment of the series.

Keywords

💡Constitutional Convention

The Constitutional Convention refers to the gathering of delegates in 1787 to revise the Articles of Confederation. Instead, they drafted a new Constitution. In the video, this event is central as it sets the stage for the discussions on the U.S. Constitution and the compromises made during its creation.

💡Articles of Confederation

The Articles of Confederation was the first written constitution of the United States, in effect from 1781 to 1789. The video discusses how the initial purpose of the Convention was to amend these Articles, but the delegates instead chose to draft a new Constitution.

💡Virginia Plan

The Virginia Plan was one of the proposals for the structure of the national government presented at the Constitutional Convention. It advocated for a strong central government with a bicameral legislature where representation was based on population. This plan is highlighted in the video as a starting point for the negotiations that led to compromises.

💡New Jersey Plan

The New Jersey Plan was an alternative proposal to the Virginia Plan, suggesting a unicameral legislature where each state had equal representation. This plan is mentioned in the video as a counterpoint to the Virginia Plan, showing the conflict between large and small states over representation.

💡Great Compromise (Connecticut Compromise)

The Great Compromise, also known as the Connecticut Compromise, was a result of negotiations between large and small states. It led to a bicameral legislature with the House of Representatives based on population and the Senate with equal representation for each state. The video explains how this compromise was crucial for the formation of the U.S. Congress.

💡Electoral College

The Electoral College is the process by which the President of the United States is elected. The video discusses how it was a compromise between direct election by citizens and selection by Congress, reflecting a balance of power in the presidential election process.

💡Three-Fifths Compromise

The Three-Fifths Compromise was an agreement during the Constitutional Convention that counted five slaves as three people for purposes of taxation and representation. This compromise is highlighted in the video as a controversial aspect of the Constitution that favored the Southern states and had implications for the representation and power dynamics within the government.

💡Slave Trade Compromise

The Slave Trade Compromise allowed the importation of slaves for a period of 20 years after the Constitution's ratification. This compromise is mentioned in the video as an ethically complex decision that was part of the negotiations to gain Southern states' support for the Constitution.

💡Anti-Federalists

The Anti-Federalists were those who opposed the ratification of the U.S. Constitution, arguing for a Bill of Rights to protect individual liberties. The video explains how their concerns led to the introduction of the Bill of Rights during the first session of Congress.

💡Bill of Rights

The Bill of Rights refers to the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution, which were introduced in response to the Anti-Federalists' demands. The video discusses how these amendments were eventually added to address concerns about individual rights and liberties.

💡Amendment Process

The Amendment Process, outlined in Article 5 of the Constitution, describes how changes can be made to the Constitution. The video mentions this process as a way to acknowledge that the Constitution is not perfect and allows for future changes and adaptations.

Highlights

Introduction to the U.S. Constitution and its significance.

The summer of 1787 marked the Constitutional Convention with 12 states in attendance.

James Madison's pivotal role in drafting a new constitution.

The Virginia Plan proposed a stronger central government with a bicameral legislature based on population.

The New Jersey Plan advocated for a unicameral legislature with equal representation for all states.

The Great Compromise led to a bicameral legislature with the House based on population and the Senate with equal state representation.

The Grand Committee's role in negotiating the Great Compromise.

The Electoral College as a compromise between direct election and congressional selection of the president.

The Three-Fifths Compromise and its impact on congressional representation and the electoral college.

The debate over the importation of slaves and the resulting 20-year delay before banning the slave trade.

The Anti-Federalists' argument for a Bill of Rights and Madison's eventual introduction of amendments.

Article 5 of the Constitution outlines the amendment process with two methods for proposing and ratifying amendments.

The Constitution provides a framework but leaves room for future changes and interpretations.

The video concludes with a teaser for Unit 5, which will delve deeper into the Electoral College.

A call to action for viewers to check out the Ultimate Review Packet for further study.

Transcripts

Hey everybody, welcome back! It’s  finally time to discuss the U.S.  

Constitution! Be sure to smash that  like button and let’s get right to it.

Alright so in the summer of 1787 twelve  states have agreed to send representatives  

to the Constitutional Convention with the stated  purpose to amend the Articles of Confederation  

but as soon as they get there it's very  clear that James Madison has other ideas  

and they begin to draft a new constitution  to replace the Articles of Confederation.

The major focus of this section is negotiation  and compromise, so we’re going to see how  

several key portions of the Constitution  are the result of compromise. Remember,  

the sign of a good compromise is  when nobody likes the outcome.

First up is the great compromise, but before we  get to the compromise, let’s briefly discuss the  

two main plans, known as the Virginia Plan and  the New Jersey Plan. The Virginia Plan wanted  

a stronger central government with a bicameral  legislature in which both houses of Congress would  

be based on population, letting the large states  receive more representation. The small states  

were obviously like, no way man, we’re not gonna  just stand here and get stomped by the big states.

The New Jersey plan said hey let's just  do what we were sent here for and amend  

the Articles Confederation. It wanted to  maintain a unicameral one house Congress  

in which each state had one vote which  gave the small states a big advantage in  

Congress. So each side wanted what was  best for themselves. Shocking, I know.

So, this leads to the great compromise,  aka the Connecticut compromise,  

and established a bicameral legislature  with the House of Representatives based off  

population while in the Senate each state would be  represented equally with two senators per state.

The grand committee, I mean what a name, was  formed to work out this compromise. But how  

exactly did they get the large states to go  along with equal representation in the Senate?  

They made a deal that all tax and revenue bills  must originate in the House of Representatives  

where the large states had a huge advantage, so  they went along with the bicameral legislature.

Next, everybody’s favorite the Electoral College  was also the result of compromise. Some delegates  

wanted citizens to directly elect the president  while others believed Congress should choose  

the president. The Electoral College kinda  takes a little from each of those ideas,  

today people in each state get to vote  for who will represent their state in the  

Electoral College and then the Electoral  College elects the president. In Unit 5  

I’ll teach you all the ins and outs of  the Electoral College, so stay tuned.

Next is the infamous three-fifths compromise,  which was the result of the debate over whether  

slaves counted as people for the purpose of  congressional representation. The southern  

states who always maintained that slaves  were property no no no they're not people  

so they don't have any rights, well, all of  a sudden in this issue the southern states  

are like oh yeah no slaves are definitely  people when we’re counting the population  

to determine how many members we get to  send to the House of Representatives.

Northern states were like no way you guys  cannot have it both ways they don't count  

as people for representation because you said  that they're not people and they're not gonna  

be represented anyway. The outcome was the  three-fifths compromise which meant that  

every five slaves counted as three people  for congressional representation purposes.  

This led to the south being over-represented  both in the House and the electoral college,  

greatly empowering the South and  protecting slavery until the Civil War.

Next is the compromise on the importation of  slaves. This one’s even more ethically blurry  

than the last one. Northern states wanted to ban  the slave trade, but that was a line in the sand  

for southern states who would never ratify  a constitution that banned the slave trade. 

The compromise was that the slave trade  couldn’t not be banned for 20 years after  

the ratification of the Constitution. On  the first day it could legally be banned,  

Congress did so and Thomas  Jefferson signed the ban into law.

All four of those occurred at  the Constitutional Convention,  

this next one happened during the debate over  ratification. Recall that the Anti-Federalists  

seized upon the lack of a Bill of Rights, and  while Madison and Hamilton tried to defend the  

conspicuous absence of a Bill of Rights they  eventually relented and Madison introduced the  

amendments that became the Bill of Rights  early in the first session of Congress.

So those are our big four compromises, but it’s  also important to point out that the frames left  

the door open to future changes, knowing they  didn’t get everything exactly right. Article  

5 lays out the amendment process, actually  there are two methods. The primary one is  

that 2/3 of both houses of Congress propose an  amendment and then 3/4 of the states ratify it.  

Alternately, 2/3 of state legislatures  can propose an amendment which would  

then need to be ratified by 3/4 of the states.

As we go further in this unit and the course,  it’ll be clear that while the Constitution  

gives us a framework, there are still lots of  issues that are left up in the air and lots  

of disagreement over what to do about things  that aren’t even mentioned in the Constitution.

Alright, well that’s it for this one. Until  next time, this has been a LaMoney Production

Thanks again for watching, be  sure to check out the Ultimate  

Review Packet if you haven’t already,  and I will see you in the next video.