1. Convention and Compromise
Chapter 7, section 2:
Convention and Compromise

2. Content Vocabulary
1. In the late 1700’s, Virginia’s free African American population grew due to the passage of a law that encouraged manumission.

3. 2. In the House of Representatives, the number of representatives must be proportional, or correspond in size, to the population of each state.
3. In a compromise, two or more sides reach an agreement in which each side gives up some of what it wants.
4. During a depression, economic activity slows and unemployment increases.

4. 5. Shay’s Rebellion A. What was Shay’s Rebellion?
Shay’s Rebellion was a 1786 revolt of Massachusetts farmers against increased taxes
B. Why did it worry many
Americans?
It was a visible sign that the
Articles of Confederation
were not working

5. 6. Who was chosen to preside over the Constitutional Convention?
George Washington was the Presiding Officer of the Constitutional Convention

6. 7. Why did the delegates to the Constitutional Convention keep their talks secret?
“The textbook says, “So they could talk freely and not be influenced by outside pressures.”
However, note that it is usually over 100 degrees in Philadelphia in the summer and they did not have air conditioning. They not only shut the windows, but also nailed them closed.
They were sent to “revise” the Articles. That is not what they did. They created a completely new government.
Do you think they kept their talks secret because they knew what they were doing was illegal?

7. The GREAT Compromise The Virginia Plan (Large State Plan)
The New Jersey Plan (Sm .State Plan)
Edmund Randolf/ James Madison
1. Strong Nat’l. Gov’t. with 3 branches:
Legislative=pass laws
Executive= carry out laws
Judicial= settle arguments
2. Bicameral legislature based on population (# of people)
Roger Sherman
1. Strong Nat’l. Gov’t.
with 3 branches:
Legislative (bicameral) to
make the laws
a. House of Reps (VA Plan/# of people)
b. Senate (NJ Plan/equal # of Senators-2)
Executive to carry out the laws
Judicial to settle arguments
Wm. Patterson
2. Unicameral legislature based on = representation (each state gets 1 vote)

8. The Three-Fifths Compromise
The North proposed:
The 3/5’s Compromise
The South proposed:
Slaves should not count towards representation because you (S.) treat them as property, not like people
3/5’s of the slaves will count towards representation:
that is, 5 slaves = 3 people
Slaves should count towards representation

9. The Twenty Year Compromise
The North proposed:
The 20 Year Compromise
The South proposed:
Congress should control trade
The North (anti-slavery) controlled Congress b/c they had a larger population than the South, therefore more reps in the House.
Congress will control trade (commerce), but they cannot stop the slave trade for 20 years (1808)
The states should control trade
If the North controlled Congress and Congress controlled trade, they could stop the slave trade.

10. The Presidential Compromise
One side proposed:
The Presidential Compromise
The other side proposed:
Congress should choose the Pres/VP
The people will not pick the best person for the job and will be too influenced by looks and popularity
Electors will choose the Pres/VP
The political parties each choose electors = to # of Reps & Sens. In Nov. people vote for the party electors. Electors (Electoral College) gather in Jan. to vote for the Pres/VP
The people should choose the Pres/VP
If Congress chooses the Pres/VP, it will make the Legislative Branch more powerful than the Executive or Judicial branches