1. 4-3 Creating the Constitution
Pages
Main Ideas
The Constitutional Convention met to improve the government of the United States.
2. The issue of representation led to the Great Compromise.
3. Regional debate over slavery led to the Three-Fifths Compromise.
4. The U.S. Constitution created federalism & a balance of power.
The Big Idea
A new Constitution provided a framework for a stronger national government.

2. 4-3 Creating the Constitution
HSS 8.2
Students analyze the political principles underlying the U.S. Constitution & compare enumerated and implied powers of the federal government.
Translation:
Students know how the founding fathers came up with the ideas in the Constitution and can tell the difference between enumerated and implied powers

3. 4-3 Creating the Constitution
February 1787 – delegates meet in Philadelphia with the goal of revising the Articles of Confederation
George Washington elected president of the Convention. James Madison and Ben Franklin also present.

4. 4-3 Creating the Constitution
The Great Compromise
Roger Sherman proposed a compromise plan.
Two house legislature
House of Representatives (Lower House) based on population
Senate (Upper House) based on equal representation
Virginia Plan
Proposed supreme power to central government
Two House legislature with representation based on population
New Jersey Plan
Proposed a unicameral legislature
Plan gave each state an equal number of votes
Gave gov’t power to tax & regulate commerce

5. 4-3 Creating the Constitution Three- Fifths Compromise
Only Three-Fifths of a states slave population would count for representation & the slave trade would end in 20 years
South
North
Wanted enslaved Africans to be counted as part of population
They wanted more votes in Congress, more power
Wanted number of slaves to determine taxes, but not representation.
Wanted a end to the slave trade in the U.S., but worried some states would leave the Union

6. 4-3 Creating the Constitution
Federalism
The sharing of power between a central government and the states that make up a country.
Federal Government
States

7. 4-3 Creating the Constitution
Checks and Balances
Legislative Branch
(Congress)
Responsible for proposing & passing laws
Executive Branch
(President)
Includes the president & his departments that help run the government.
Makes sure laws are carried out
Judicial Branch
(National Courts)
Responsible for interpreting laws, punishing criminals, and settling disputes between states using the Constitution

8. 4-3 Creating the Constitution
Checks and Balances
The framers of the Constitution created a system of checks and balances, in order to keep one branch of government from becoming too powerful