4-3 Creating the Constitution Pages 125-130 Main Ideas The Constitutional Convention met to improve the government of the United States. 2. The issue of representation led to the Great Compromise. 3. Regional debate over slavery led to the Three-Fifths Compromise. 4. The U.S. Constitution created federalism & a balance of power. The Big Idea A new Constitution provided a framework for a stronger national government.

4-3 Creating the Constitution HSS 8.2 Students analyze the political principles underlying the U.S. Constitution & compare enumerated and implied powers of the federal government. Translation: Students know how the founding fathers came up with the ideas in the Constitution and can tell the difference between enumerated and implied powers

4-3 Creating the Constitution February 1787 – delegates meet in Philadelphia with the goal of revising the Articles of Confederation George Washington elected president of the Convention. James Madison and Ben Franklin also present.

4-3 Creating the Constitution The Great Compromise Roger Sherman proposed a compromise plan. Two house legislature House of Representatives (Lower House) based on population Senate (Upper House) based on equal representation Virginia Plan Proposed supreme power to central government Two House legislature with representation based on population New Jersey Plan Proposed a unicameral legislature Plan gave each state an equal number of votes Gave gov’t power to tax & regulate commerce

4-3 Creating the Constitution Three- Fifths Compromise Only Three-Fifths of a states slave population would count for representation & the slave trade would end in 20 years South North Wanted enslaved Africans to be counted as part of population They wanted more votes in Congress, more power Wanted number of slaves to determine taxes, but not representation. Wanted a end to the slave trade in the U.S., but worried some states would leave the Union

4-3 Creating the Constitution Federalism The sharing of power between a central government and the states that make up a country. Federal Government States

4-3 Creating the Constitution Checks and Balances Legislative Branch (Congress) Responsible for proposing & passing laws Executive Branch (President) Includes the president & his departments that help run the government. Makes sure laws are carried out Judicial Branch (National Courts) Responsible for interpreting laws, punishing criminals, and settling disputes between states using the Constitution

4-3 Creating the Constitution Checks and Balances The framers of the Constitution created a system of checks and balances, in order to keep one branch of government from becoming too powerful