Constitutional Convention Lesson Summary

A written plan of government is called what? 1.Bill of Rights 2.Constitution 3.Amendment 4.Political Party

What is it called when 2 or more sides make an agreement in which they get part of what they want and part of what they don’t want? 1.Convention 2.Constitution 3.Amendment 4.Compromise

1 st major Debate “Should we make changes to Articles of Confederation or get something new?” – Decision: Start with new constitution x

Should we keep the Articles of Confederation with changes or start a new constitution? 1.Keep the Articles but make changes 2.Start a new constitution

Virginia Plan Presented by Edmund Randolph Wanted 3 branches of gov. – Legislative, Executive, Judicial Wanted # of representatives in Legislative Branch from each state based on population Big state (population) = More votes in Congress Who would favor this plan more?

Do you like the Virginia Plan? 1.Yes 2.No

The New Jersey Plan Presented by William Paterson Wanted 3 branches of Congress – Legislative, Executive, Judicial Each State has one vote in Congress Small states = same power as big states Who would favor this plan more?

Do you like the New Jersey Plan 1.Yes 2.No

2 nd major debate “Should representation in Congress be based on population (Virginia Plan) or should all states have the same # (NJ Plan)?” – Decision: Great Compromise

Should we go with the Virginia Plan or the New Jersey Plan? 1.Virginia Plan 2.New Jersey Plan

The Great Compromise Group called Congress will lead Legislative Branch Congress split into 2 sections – Senate- 2 from every state (NJ Plan) – House of Representatives- # from each state based on population (Virginia Plan)

3 rd major debate Should slaves count into a state’s population or not? Northern states said no…did not have any Southern states said yes…had many – Decision: 3/5ths Compromise

Should slaves count into the population of each state? 1.Each slave should count as 1 person 2.Slaves should not count as part of population Response Grid

3/5ths Compromise Each slave will count as 3/5 of a person when figuring the # of people living in a state – Did not have ANYTHING to do with giving slaves the right to vote or ending slavery…simply whether they would count into population (census)

Approving the Constitution Agreed they would need 9 states to approve Should a Bill of Rights be added?? – Federalists- “NO!! It gives the national government strong powers and one is not needed.” – Anti-Federalists- “YES! We need a Bill of Rights to make sure the strong national government does not take away our rights!” Compromised by promising a “Bill of Rights” would be added if it passed as written 9 th state approved (New Hampshire) June 21 st, 1788 Bill of Rights added in 1791