AIM: Why is the U.S. Constitution Considered a Bundle of Compromises? Do Now: Copy Vocabulary Below: Compromise: A settlement of differences in which each side makes concessions and meet in the middle. Constitutional Convention: meeting in Philadelphia to write a new plan of gov’t to replace the Articles of Confederation (AOC). US Constitution: written laws that govern the United States Preamble: is the beginning of the Constitution that explains why it was written Flexibility/ Amendment Process: being able to change our constitution with the times with our amendment process

Does the cartoon below represent a compromise? Yes or no? Explain.

The Constitutional Convention In 1787, fifty-five delegates met in Philadelphia because they all agreed that the Articles of Confederation were NOT working. They had to come up with a better plan. They wanted the central government to be strong. But they also wanted to make sure that it didn’t abuse its power like the British Parliament had done.

Forming A New Government: What’s the best plan? Delegates at the convention had many different ideas about how to create a stronger central government but agreeing on a plan that would work for everyone wasn’t easy. First, they had to resolve a number of problems.

Problems in the Colonies Problem # 1: How many votes a state had in Congress was a problem. The large states wanted representation to be determined by population. The smaller states wanted all states to be equally represented. Problem # 2: The Southern states with large slave populations wanted slaves to count towards representation in the House, but not for tax purposes. The Northern states felt slaves (considered property) should be taxed but not represented. Problem # 3: Colonists who opposed slavery wanted the slave trade abolished (ended) but supporters of slavery wanted the slave trade to continue (business as usual). Problem # 4: Southerners exported many agricultural goods, especially cotton to Britain. They did not want the federal government to be allowed to put tariffs (or taxes) on their exports. Northern business interests wanted tariffs to protect them from foreign competition. Problem # 5: There was a general agreement on the need for a president but the question of how long the term of office should be was a problem. Suggestions ranged from three years to life. Some people wanted the president directly elected by the people but others mistrusted the people.

Let’s see if your group came up with the same solutions as the framers?  Read, Five Constitutional Compromises  Complete your graphic organizers based on the text

Problem # 1: How many votes a state had in Congress was a problem. The large states wanted representation to be determined by population. The smaller states wanted all states to be equally represented. Suggested Plans The Virginia Plan The larger states favored the Virginia Plan proposed by Sir Edmund Rudolf which stated… Each state would have a different number of representatives in Congress based on the state's population. National Government would have 3 Branches (Executive, Legislative and Judicial). The Virginia Plan The larger states favored the Virginia Plan proposed by Sir Edmund Rudolf which stated… Each state would have a different number of representatives in Congress based on the state's population. National Government would have 3 Branches (Executive, Legislative and Judicial). The New Jersey Plan The smaller states favored the New Jersey Plan proposed by William Patterson which stated… No matter how many people live in a state the number of representatives in Congress would be the same for each state. National Government would have 2 parts (The Senate and the House of Representatives). The New Jersey Plan The smaller states favored the New Jersey Plan proposed by William Patterson which stated… No matter how many people live in a state the number of representatives in Congress would be the same for each state. National Government would have 2 parts (The Senate and the House of Representatives).

Problem # 1: How many votes a state had in Congress was a problem. The large states wanted representation to be determined by population. The smaller states wanted all states to be equally represented. Compromise: Connecticut offered a compromise: a bicamerial (two house) legislature with equal state representation in the Senate and representation according to state population in the House of Representatives.

Bi-camerial Congress= (Two House) # of Representatives Determined by State Population Equal # of Representatives Each state gets 2 senators

Problem # 2: The Southern states with large slave populations wanted slaves to count towards representation in the House, but not for tax purposes. The Northern states felt slaves (considered property) should be taxed but not represented. Compromise: It was finally agreed that each five slaves would be counted as three persons for both taxation and representation purposes. =

According to the 3/5 th Compromise, how many white people are there? How many slaves?

Problem # 3: (Slavery) Colonists who opposed slavery wanted the slave trade abolished (ended) but supporters of slavery wanted the slave trade to continue (business as usual). Compromise: They succeeded in having the importation of slavery forbidden after However, slavery itself would be aloud to exist. ABOLISHED PLANTATION STILL O.K.

Problem # 4 (Tariffs): Southerners exported many agricultural goods, especially cotton to Britain. They did not want the federal government to be allowed to put tariffs (or taxes) on their exports. Northern business interests wanted tariffs to protect them from foreign competition. Compromise: Congress was given the authority to tax imports (goods entering the country) but forbidden to tax exports.

Problem # 5: There was a general agreement on the need for a president but the question of how long the term of office should be was a problem. Suggestions ranged from three years to life. Some people wanted the president directly elected by the people but others mistrusted the people. Compromise: (The Presidency) Presidents may serve a four year term office and elections would be indirect through the “electoral college” system.

Task 1: Form Your Own Continental Congress Working in groups of 4, debate one of the five problems that the colonies faced. (5 mins) Two students must represent the South and two students must represent the North. See if you can come up with one compromise to solve your particular problem. Be ready to share your solution with the whole class.