1. Chapter 7 Creating the Constitution 1776-1790 Section 2 The Constitutional Convention
LEQ:
What role did compromise play in the creation of the United States Constitution?

2. Key terms & People What you will know
James Madison Roger Sherman Compromise Virginia Plan New Jersey Plan Edmund Randolph The Great Compromise William Paterson

3. What you will do Discuss Constitutional Convention
Identify the specifics of the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan
Explain the Great Compromise
Discuss the disputes over slavery and the 3/5’s compromise
Analyze the preamble of the Constitution

4. Constitutional Convention

5. The Constitutional Convention
Constitutional Convention-Philadelphia 1787
Purpose…
To revise the Articles of Confederation
The Delegates
55 total from 12 states
Rhode Island did not send any delegates
George Washington
President of the convention

6. The Virginia Plan
On the third day of the convention, Edmund Randolph of Virginia proposed a plan for a new, strong central government.
The Virginia Plan authored by James Madison called for a…
Three branch government
Legislative branch
Congress
Based on population
Good for large states
Executive branch
President
Judicial branch
Court system to interpret the laws

7. The New Jersey Plan
Smaller states opposed the Virginia plan. They wanted equal representation in Congress.
On June 15 – William Patterson introduced a modified plan for small states
The New Jersey Plan…
Single house legislature with equal representation for each state
Power to Congress to raise money and regulate commerce

8. The Great Compromise
Roger Sherman introduces a compromise to satisfy both large and small states.
On July 16, 1787 the delegates accept the…
Great Compromise
Two house Congress
To please the large states
The lower house or the House of Representatives was to be based on population
Representatives serve 2 year terms
Chosen by the people

9. The Great Compromise To please the small states
Each state would have two seats in the upper house or Senate
Senators chosen by State legislatures
6 year terms

10. Three-Fifths Compromise

11. Debates Over Slavery
In your HRT’s, read Debates Over Slavery and answer the following questions.
What issue divided the delegates that touched off bitter debates between southerners and northerners?
Which delegates said slaves should be counted when calculating representatives? How did the other group of delegates react?
What plan did the delegates finally agree to? What percentage of a person does this new plan consider a slave?
How did this effect the south?
Why did the north agree to this plan?
What did this compromise do to slavery? How?
What did some northern delegates want to do about slavery? How did the south react?
What compromise was reached regarding slavery? Explain.

12. A New Constitution
Differences between the Articles of Confederation and the Constitution
Articles of Confederation
Pact between the states
Constitution
Authority from the people rather than the states
This can be seen by the Preamble
“We the People of the United States”
This demonstrates that the government is based on the consent of the people

13. Checks on Learning
What was the purpose of the Constitutional Convention?
Who was the president of the convention?
What was the main difference between the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan?
How was the national government organized under the Virginia Plan?
What was the Three-Fifths compromise?
What is the significance of the constitution’s first phrase; We the People of the United States?

14. 7. What compromise created a two house legislature?
8. Which house is based on a state’s population?
9. Which house is based on equal representation for each state?
10. Which document takes its authority from the people?
11. Define compromise.
12. Answer the LEQ.

15. Activity
Page 756
Thomas Jefferson, Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom
Read together as a class
Use the SOAPSTONE graphic organizer
Each person will create 5 bill of rights
As a group debate your bill of rights and create a group bill of rights- 5 rights per group