VCE History American Revolution: AOS 2

1787: Philadelphia Solution

Summer of 1787, delegates from 12 states met to discuss, in Pennsylvania

State house the problems surrounding the Articles and what should be done
to amend the crisis.
Main issue was the use and distribution of power.
To overcome this, the founding fathers set out to establish the separation of
and balance of power.

The Virginia Plan James Madison

Proposed a plan to balance govt among 3 branches, all with the ability to
check and control each other.
3 branches Executive (President and Secretary)
Legislature (Congress)
Judiciary (Court system)
Executive
Executive has the power to veto,
block legislation

Legislature

Judiciary
Judiciary has the power to block any
legislation not in line with the
constitution

Legislature have the power to

overturn veto with 2/3 majority in
both houses

Supporters of the Virginia plan became known as Federalists

Sept 1787: Constitution made public.

Founding Fathers represented one class: rich, white males and this
had an obvious bearing on the shaping of the constitution.
It was meant to protect the Status quo

Problems: main issue was the problems surrounding the lack of protection for
individual rights.

Fear of a centralised govt.

There was a public debate over the next 6 months

1787 1788 Ratification Debate:

Federalists Vs Anti Federalists

National Vs State rights

Federalists: Hamilton, Madison, Dickenson

Anti Federalists: Patrick Henry, Sam Adams

Anti federalist:

Argued that too much power could be taken from the states and that
personal liberty would be infringed upon.
Believed that a system of levels of govt would allow excessive taxation and
would help the aristocracy maintain their power.
Larger states feared losing their power.
Oppressive national govt
Federal city isolated, maintains status quo
Saw it as a return to the British system

Federalists:

For the constitution

Led by Madison, Dickenson, Hamilton
Supported by: Franklin, Washington
Popular in the cities, but initially they were outnumbered.
Well organised, tactical, politically minded, and intelligent.
Federalists argued that this new system would empower the people, rather
than take it away.

Anti-federalist had no viable solution, only complaints which were met and
answered by the passionate federalists.

The constitution made no mention of human rights, but Madison argued that
the checks and balances themselves would indirectly protect the public.
Anti-federalists demanded a Bill of Rights, and this was the deal breaker or
maker of the constitution.
Smaller states ratified quickly with the promise of equal votes in the senate.
Larger states were most difficult to persuade as they had the most power
and authority to lose.

July 1788: 9 states approved and accepted the constitution

1789 The Bill of Rights

Anti feds were fearful of governmental tyranny, whilst the federalists were
weary of the tyranny of the mob and anarchy

Many states only ratified the constitution with the promise of a Bill of Rights
to protect the individual rights of the people.
Compromise b/t federalists and anti feds
Jefferson in particular saw the need for a Bill of Rights, wrote to Madison to
express his concerns
12 Amendments were introduced and Sept 1789 10 was passed.

It can be argued that the Bill of Rights disregarded women, Native Americans
and slaves. However the door was left open for these rights to be extended,
expanded and reinterpreted.

Whether slavery was to be permitted was a matter of conflict between the

North and South

Slaves only mentioned 3 times in the constitution.

Quotes:
o
o
o

They were invisible in the new political democracy. (Zinn on women)

Woods had opposite view, saw women as advanced in the new society.
Serves the interests of the wealthy elite. (Zinn on the constitution)
Law and Liberty were its two guiding lights. (Brogan on the
constitution)