Constitutional Convention Worksheet

Do Now State the main idea and supporting details of the following passage: The delegates of the Constitutional Convention were selected by their states. They were educated, patriotic, and experienced men, ranging from the ages of 40 to 81. Benjamin Franklin was the oldest delegate. Some men were landowners and some were lawyers or judges. All delegates held at least one public office. This group is sometimes called the "Founding Fathers." There were no women or minorities.

Answer Main idea: This is a description of the candidates to the Constitutional Convention. Supporting details These delegates of the Constitutional Convention were selected by their states. They were educated, patriotic, and experienced men, ranging from the ages of 40 to 81. Benjamin Franklin was the oldest delegate. Some men were landowners and some were lawyers or judges. All delegates held at least one public office. This group is sometimes called the "Founding Fathers." There were no women or minorities.

Do Now #2 Take out your Constitutional Convention homework. Describe anything that you learned while completing this activity.

Question 1 Where did the Constitutional Convention take place? Include the name of the building, the city, and the state.

Answer The Constitutional Convention took place at the State House in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Question 2 Which state did not send a representative? Why?

Answer Rhode Island did not send a representative because it was afraid of losing state’s rights.

Question 3 How many delegates were at the convention? How many signed the Constitution, and how many dissented?

Answer There were 55 delegates to the Convention. Of these, 39 signed the Constitution, and 3 dissented.

Question 4 Use 3 adjectives to describe the delegates. What were their ages?

Answer They were educated, patriotic, and experienced men, ranging from the ages of 40 to 81.

Question 5 What were some of the jobs of the “Founding Fathers?” What is one job they all had in common?

Answer Some men were landowners and some were lawyers or judges. All delegates held at least one public office.

True or False? Women and minorities were present at the Constitutional convention.

False Women, minorities, and Native Americans were not present at the Constitutional Convention.

True or False? The writers of our Constitution wanted to make sure that the new nation and its citizens would be free and independent, and that the government of the United States would protect the people from a government that was too powerful and from the autocratic rule of kings.

True True, our Constitution protects the right of individual citizens.

True or False? Because the delegates didn't want the wishes of the people to be denied by any part of government or by the power of any single leader, they decided to give the government the same powers as the Articles of Confederation.

False The statement should read: The delegates didn't want the wishes of the people to be denied by any part of government or by the power of any single leader, but they also knew the government must be stronger than the one based on the Articles of Confederation.

Question 7 Who was the president of the Constitutional Convention? Why was his job difficult?

Answer George Washington was the President of the Constitutional Convention. His job was difficult because his job was to keep the meetings orderly and effective. This was no small task considering the many different points of view among the delegates.

Question 8 Because delegates to the Constitutional Convention came from different backgrounds and held different political views, what did they argue about?

Question 8 Delegates to the Constitutional Convention came from different backgrounds and held different political views. For example, they argued about how many representatives each state should be allowed.

Question 9 Larger states favored what plan?   What did this plan call for?

Answer Larger states favored this plan Virginia Plan   What did this plan call for? Each state would have a different number of representatives based on the state’s population

Virginia

Question 9 Smaller states favored what plan?   What did this plan call for?

Answer Smaller states favored this plan: New Jersey Plan   What did this plan call for?  The number of representatives would be the same for each state

Question 10 – Senate How was representation based?  

Answer – Senate An equal number of representatives from each state   

Question 10 – Senate Which states were satisfied with this?  

Answer – Senate States with smaller populations

House of Representatives How was representation based?  

Answer Would include one representative for each 30,000 individuals in a state  

House of Representatives Which states were satisfied with this?  

Answer States with larger populations  

Question 11 What was Roger Sherman’s plan called?

Answer Roger Sherman’s plan was called the Great Compromise

Question 12 The Constitutional Congress took place in secret. Why do you think the delegates chose to do this?

Possible Answer The delegates were making changes to our current government system. They may have wanted to work in secret so that they could work undistracted from outside peoples’ opinions.

Question 13 Should politicians compromise on core principals? Is compromise sometimes essential to effective government?

Question 14 Do you think the Great Compromise, which resulted in two houses of Congress, is still a good idea today?

Great Compromise A and B. What was the first and last name of the man who proposed the two-house legislature?

Great Compromise Roger Sherman

Great Compromise Which legislative body has an equal number of representatives from each state?

Great Compromise The Senate

Great Compromise Which states favored the Virginia Plan?

Great Compromise The Larger States

Great Compromise Which plan was based on equal representation?

Great Compromise The New Jersey Plan

Great Compromise Which plan was based on population to determine representation?

Great Compromise The Virginia Plan

Wrap Up Question 1 Describe the delegates of the Constitutional Convention

Wrap Up Question 2 Explain the New Jersey and Virginia Plans, and the resolution to the debate

Wrap Up Question 3 Describe the details of the House of Representatives and the Senate

Wrap Up Question 4 What if there was no compromise between large and small states? How might this affect large states? (Give example) How might this affect small states? (Give example)