1. US History Week 4 Lesson 3 USV 5b The Constitutional Convention

2. Bell Ringer What do you think would happen to you today if you started a Facebook petition to get people to ratify the constitution you created in the past two days?

3. Key Points Power...who should have it…and how much? The roles of Washington and Madison

4. Monarchy

5. Articles of Confederation

6. Background Information State Constitutions held more weight under the Articles of Confederation than Federal laws did.  Little got done…bickering between states. Many Americans now realized that the Articles of the Confederation would not last much longer.  Shay’s Rebellion… Constitutional Convention meets in Philadelphia in 1787.

8. Key Issue #1 How should power be divided between Federal and State Governments?  Federal Law is supreme, but states are left considerable leeway to govern themselves.  Avoids the dominance of a king, but eliminates problems like Shay’s Rebellion  States can amend the Constitution if they work together.

9. Federalism

10. Key Issue #2 How should legislative power be divided among the states?

11. Small State

12. Large State

15. An Important Question of Representation If slaves are legally property according to southerners, should they count as people in the census?  Yes = more population for slave owning states and thus more power in the House.  No = less population for the South and a good chance that northerners will try to end slavery.

16. The Answer: The 3/5ths Compromise 3/5 Compromise - slaves are to be counted as 3/5 of a person. Southern states also had to pay 3/5 of the taxes on their slaves.

17. Key Issue #3 Division of power within the new central government

18. The Old Way

19. The New Way

20. Quote of the Day “Jealousy, and local policy mix too much in all our public councils for the good government of the Union. In a words, the confederation appears to me to be little more than a shadow without the substance....” -- George Washington

21. Key Players Washington Madison

24. George Washington Acted as President of the Convention Did not participate in many debates - acted more as an overseer. Lent his prestige to the Convention

27. James Madison Well educated - studied European Philosophy and Political Science Believed “people” to be selfish and corrupt if left to do what they wished Was only 37 at the time of the Convention  Part of a new generation – Federalist  Later left Federalists with Jefferson to become a Democratic-Republican

29. Madison Continued Also authored the Virginia Plan  Strong Federal Govt.  Wanted to support national authority and local authority at the same time

30. More Madison “Father of the Constitution” Note-taker for the Convention  Secrecy was very important Later wrote much of the Bill of Rights Became the fourth President in 1809

32. Activity Comparison Chart – Articles vs. Constitution vs. Created government Work with the same person you created your government with  Put an X in each box that applies  Be ready to explain your answers…I will pull chips for each section