Developing a Constitution August 22, 2008

Virginia Plan was the first proposed plan for a Constitution Called for a new government with 3 branches: Legislative, executive, judicial Representation would be based on population or amount of money contributed to the central government.

New Jersey Plan offered several revisions to the Articles of Confederation, but was not nearly as radical as the Virginia Plan. This plan retained a unicameral legislature with each State being equally represented

NJ and VA plans had several differences, most notably on the basis of how States would be represented in Congress

Connecticut Compromise said that Congress would be 2 Houses, one based on population, the other equal. This satisfied both the proponents of VA plan and NJ Plan Sometimes referred to as The Great Compromise

Three-Fifths Compromise agreed to count “all other persons” (slaves) as three-fifths of a person. Debated whether or not slaves should be counted when figuring representation in the lower House Would also be used for taxes

Compromise was a major factor in the formation of the Constitution, but not the only factor Click Me

September 17, 1787 the convention approved its work Two groups emerged concerning ratification: Federalists  favored ratification Anti-federalists  opposed

Federalist stressed weakness of Articles; a new government was only solution Anti-Federalists objected on many points Ratification process, absence of any mention of God Also opposed greatly increased power of central government and lack of a bill of rights