1. The constitutional convention
The Birth of the United States Government

2. The Constitutional Convention of 1787
The Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia met between May and September of 1787 to address the problems of the weak central government that existed under the Articles of Confederation.

3. Constitutional Compromises
Compromise: an agreement or a settlement of a dispute that is reached by each side making concessions.
The Constitution is the result of many compromises

4. Virginia Plan
The Virginia Plan favored the states with a large population
Written by James Madison and proposed by Edmund Randolph, both Virginians
Bicameral legislature: the lawmaking branch of the government would consist of two separate bodies
States would have representation in each legislative house based on its population

5. New Jersey Plan Introduced by Edward Paterson of New Jersey
Kept the one-vote-per-state representation in one legislative body like it was under the Articles of Confederation
Small states favored it

6. Connecticut Plan or The Great Compromise
It provided for a bicameral legislature
House of Representatives: each state is represented according to population (VA plan)
Senate: each state has two senators (NJ plan)
Both houses must pass every law

7. The 3/5 Compromise
Southern states wanted to include slaves in their population count for representation even though their slaves could not vote
Northern states wanted to include only the voting population in the count
Compromise: 3/5 of the slave population in each state would be counted for population purposes

8. The electoral College compromise
Some delegates wanted the president to be elected directly through the people
Others feared the people weren’t informed enough to make a wise decision. They wanted the state legislatures to elect the President
It was finally agreed that the people would elect special electors from each state (electoral college) that would elect the president