1. The Virginia Plan
Created by James Madison but proposed in Congress by Edmund Randolph
The purpose of this plan was to protect the interests of larger sized states and supported a federal system of government
It was supported by the larger states of SC, NC, GA, PA, VA, NY, MA
Representation in Congress based on your population
Bi-Cameral legislature: two houses (senate and representatives)
Many of the ideas in the VA plan were taken from the teachings of Lord Montesquieu

2. The New Jersey Plan Created by William Patterson
Plan was created to protect the interests of the smaller states and wanted to fix/keep the Articles of Confederation
Was supported by smaller states such as NJ, DE, NH that feared losing power in the potential federal government
Representation in Congress based on 1 state 1 vote
Use a unicameral legislature (1 house only)

3. The Great Compromise Created by Roger Sherman and Oliver Ellsworth
Was a compromise or agreement between both large and small states where each would get some of what they wanted in exchange for keeping the nation together
The House of Representatives would be based on the population of each state
The Senate would be an equal vote of 2 votes per state regardless of size
Many believe that this compromise saved the Convention and saved the nation – it will set the tone for future arguments, compromise is better than dissolution of the nation

4. The 3/5th’s Compromise
Northern (factory/goods based) and Southern States (agriculture based) could not agree on how to handle the issue of slavery
The Northern States were afraid that if the South gets to count all of their slaves those states would control the House of Representatives and therefore could push a “bill/law” to make slavery legal
The Southern States were afraid without counting the slave population for tax purposes, they did not have the population to match the North in the H.O.R. and then therefore the North could push a “bill/law” to make slavery illegal
Neither side will back down and both threaten to end all negotiations on the new Constitution essentially ending the USA
Eventually after doing the math (population size between Northern and Southern States) it is decided that for every 5 slaves in the south, they can be counted as 3 free citizens in the HOR
this did little more than keep the voting numbers the same as before the 3/5th’s. Positive – it kept the nation together, negative – it failed to address the issue of slavery and allowed it to continue in our nation for several more decades

5. The Federalist Papers
Written in 1787 and 1788 to persuade New York voters to ratify the proposed constitution
There are 85 essays outlining how this new government would operate and why this type of government was the best choice for the United States of America
All of the essays were signed "PUBLIUS” the general consensus is that Alexander Hamilton wrote 52, James Madison wrote 28, and John Jay contributed the remaining 5

6. The Constitution of the United States of America
- Replaced the AOC as our official government
The highest law in our nation
It is kept in Washington DC, on display in the National Archives
It is the oldest still used written constitution in the world (and the shortest)
Written between in the same room in Philadelphia PA where the Declaration was written

7. The Preamble of the US Constitution
The introduction to the US Constitution.
Explains why the Framers scraped the Articles of Confederation and created the Constitution
Lists 6 reasons why the AOC had to be removed
“We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this constitution for the United States of America”

8. The Articles
The 7 Articles of the US Constitution establish the rules for government. Article I – Legislative Branch Article II – Executive Branch Article III – Judicial Branch Article IV – Rules for States Article V – Amending the Constitution Article VI – Debts, Oaths, Supremacy of the Constitution Article VII – Ratification of the Constitution

9. The Amendments
Article I – The Legislative Branch. The principal mission of the legislative body is to make laws. It is split into two different chambers –  the House of Representatives and the Senate. Congress is a legislative body that holds the power to draft and pass legislation, borrow money for the nation, declare war and raise a military. It also has the power to check and balance the other two federal branches.
Article II – The Executive Branch. This branch of the government manages the day-to- day operations of government through various federal departments and agencies. Its powers include making treaties with other nations, appointing federal judges, department heads and Ambassadors, and determining how to best run the country and run military operations.

10. Article III – The Judicial Branch Article III outlines the powers of the federal court system. Determines that the court of last resort is the US Supreme Court and that the US Congress has the power to determine the size and scope of those courts below it. All judges are appointed for life unless they resign due to bad behavior. Those facing charges are to be tried and judged by a jury of their peers.
Article IV – The States. This article defines the relationship between the states and the federal government. The federal government guarantees a republican form of government in each state, protects the nation and the people from foreign or domestic violence, and determines how new states can join the Union. It also suggests that all the states are equal to each other and should respect each other’s laws and the judicial decisions made by other state court systems.

11. Article VII – Ratification
Article VI – Debts, Supremacy, Oaths Article VI determines that the US Constitution, and all laws made from it are the ‘supreme Law of the Land’, and all officials, whether members of the state legislatures, Congress, judiciary or the Executive have to swear an oath to the Constitution.
Article V – Amendment Future generations can amend the Constitution if the society so requires it. Both the states and Congress have the power to initiate the amendment process.
Article VII – Ratification 
This article details all those people who signed the Constitution, representing the original 13 states.

12. The First 10 Amendments - “The Bill of Rights”
Secure 10 individual freedoms for all US Citizens
They are a direct response to the freedoms we had been denied under English rule
Your task is to look up each Amendment (I to X) and define them