1. Rival Plans THE VIRGINIA PLAN
Based on the ideas of James Madison, The Virginia Plan called for a central government divided into three branches—legislative, executive, judicial—each branch with power to check the others.
Called for strong national government with power to make laws, LEVY TAXES, CONTROL INTERSTATE COMMERCE, OVERRIDE STATE LAWS
Called for BICAMERAL LEGISLATURE WITH MEMBERSHIP BASED ON STATE’S POPULATION; lower house members elected directly by the people; upper house members selected by state legislatures

2. Rival Plans THE NEW JERSEY PLAN
Delegates from small states concerned that VIRGINIA PLAN GAVE TOO MUCH POWER TO LARGE STATES
The New Jersey Plan called for a STRONG CENTRAL GOVERNMENT made up of three branches, but was designed to stick closer to the Articles of Confederation.
Called for UNICAMERAL LEGISLATURE
EACH STATE WOULD HAVE ONE VOTE, with equal representation regardless of its population.
Despite support from small states, the plan was ultimately rejected at the Convention.

3. Conflict and Compromise
For weeks after the rejection of the New Jersey Plan, the Convention was deadlocked. Tempers flared, and at times it seemed the Convention would fall apart. In the end, a series of compromises saved the Convention.
June 30, 1787: Roger Sherman presented by Connecticut Compromise (THE GREAT COMPROMISE).
Elements of both plans
Bicameral legislature: LOWER HOUSE NUMBER BASED ON STATE’S POPULATION, UPPER HOUSE WITH TWO MEMBERS EACH
LOWER HOUSE ELECTED DIRECTLY BY THE PEOPLE; UPPER HOUSE SELECTED BY STATE LEGISLATURE.
The Great Compromise
Key points: whether slaves should be counted as part of state’s population; whether importing slaves continued
Counting slaves would greatly increase population and power of southern states
Three-Fifths Compromise: three-fifths of enslaved people would be counted to determine a state’s population.
COMPROMISE ON SLAVE TRADE ALLOWED IT TO CONTINUE PROTECTED FOR THE NEXT 20 YEARS
Compromise Over Slavery

4. Conflict and Compromise (cont’d.)
Presidential Election
Some wanted president elected directly by the people; others by the state legislatures or the national legislature
COMPROMISE: STATE ELECTORS
NUMBER OF STATE ELECTORS EQUAL TO NUMBER OF REPRESENTATIVES IN BOTH HOUSES OF CONGRESS; CHOSEN BY POPULAR VOTE
If no candidate received majority vote, House of Representatives would choose president
Finalizing the Constitution
Debated issues, settled disputes, made key decisions during summer of 1787
Benjamin Franklin said document was as close to perfect as possible, to overlook parts they did not like and “act heartily and unanimously” in signing Constitution
Some delegates refused to sign because it did not include a bill of rights.
39 delegates from 12 states signed Constitution
Convention adjourned September 17, 1787

5. Section 5 at a Glance Ratification and the Bill of Rights
Ratification of the Constitution involved a heated debate between those who supported the Constitution and those who opposed it.
Antifederalists opposed the Constitution because it lacked a bill of rights.
The Federalist Papers outlined the key ideas of the Federalists, who supported the Constitution.
The struggle for ratification took place in every state.

6. Antifederalists versus Federalists
Constitutional Convention adjourned September 17, 1787
Drastic changes in plan for government surprised some, angered others
New national government would
Greatly reduce powers of state legislatures
Completely restructure Congress
Framers outlined process for ratifying Constitution
Voters in each state to elect representatives to state ratifying convention
To become law, Constitution had to be ratified by 9 of 13 states
Two factions
Federalists supported Constitution
Antifederalists opposed Constitution

8. Over what issues did Antifederalists and Federalists disagree?
Contrasting
Over what issues did Antifederalists and Federalists disagree?
Answer(s): strength of federal government; restructuring of Congress; power of executive branch; necessity of bill of rights