The Constitutional Convention

How should we set up our Government? The Plan of the Large States Known as the Virginia Plan Set up a 3 branch government (a President, a Congress, and federal courts) Believed that representation in Congress should be based on population Believed it is fair that states with more people have more votes Favored by states such as Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, New York, and Virginia

How should we set up our Government? The Plan of the Small States Known as the New Jersey Plan Set up a 3 branch government (a President, a Congress, and federal courts) Believed that each state should b equal like under the Articles of Confederation Believed that Congress should have the ability to tax and regulate trade Made small states equal in power to the large states Favored by Delaware, New Jersey, and Maryland https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7h5tOqzoyI

The Compromise on how should we set up our Government The Compromise on how should we set up our Government? The Great Compromise The House of Representatives was based on population This pleased the states with large populations = Number of representatives per state Pleased the states with small populations Roger Sherman of Connecticut came Up with a plan to have a two house Congress or legislature. It included a House of Representatives and a Senate https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEwX5cu88VY

How should slaves be counted? The View of the North The Northern states believed that because slaves could not vote or participate in government at all that they should not count when calculating representation in Congress

How should slaves be counted? The View of the South The Southern states wanted the 550,000 enslaved people to count toward representation to give the South more voting power in the South

How should slaves be counted? The 3/5 Compromise Every 5 enslaved persons would count as 3 free person when calculating the population for the purpose of representation in Congress

Should Congress regulate trade? The North’s View Yes trade should be regulated with foreign countries and between states

Should Congress regulate trade? The South’s View The South felt that trade should not be regulated because it feared taxes on exports Why? Because they made their money off selling tobacco and rice They also didn’t want the slave trade stopped because it gave them reduced costs (no labor)

Should Congress regulate trade? The Commerce and Slave Trade Compromise Congress can regulate trade but cannot tax any exports Congress cannot interfere with the slave trade before 1808

How should we choose the President? By the People People should choose the President by voting The person with the majority of votes wins.

How should we choose the President? Congress should choose Believed that people were not informed enough to choose the best candidate Believed that their educated representatives would make informed decisions that were in the best interest of the people

How should we choose the President? The Electoral College A group of people that choose the President for a state Step one- People vote Step two- Electors are chosen based on number of votes Step three- The winner of the most electors wins all the electors for that state Example- NC has 13 electors, Bush received all 13 of NC electors in election

English Bill of Rights The English Bill of Rights 1689 is largely a statement of certain positive rights that its authors considered that citizens and/or residents of a constitutional monarchy ought to have. It asserts the Subject's right to petition the Monarch and the Subject's right to bear arms for defense. It also sets out certain constitutional requirements where the actions of the Crown require the consent of the governed as represented in Parliament.

Provisions of the English Bill of rights The king or queen could not cancel laws or impose taxes, unless Parliament agreed. Free elections and frequent meetings of Parliament, must be held. Excessive fines and cruel punishment were forbidden. People had the right to complain to the king or queen in Parliament without being arrested.

Magna Carta A document called the Magna Carta, created in England in 1215, limited powers of the King. Over time, the rights it listed were guaranteed to all English people.

Magna Carta Magna Carta is an English charter originally issued in 1215. It was the most significant early influence on the extensive historical process that led to the rule of constitutional law today. Magna Carta influenced many common law documents and others, such as the United States Constitution and Bill of Rights, and is considered one of the most important legal documents in the history of democracy.