1. Creating the Constitution

2. The Constitutional Convention
Issues to resolve
How would the new legislative body be structured?
How to provide representation in the legislature?
How would the issue of slavery be addressed?

3. Virginia Plan Two houses Representation would be based on population
Governor of Virginia
(lawyer)
Two houses
Representation would be based on population
Favored by larger states – Why?

4. New Jersey Plan single house
Representation would be equal for each state
Favored by smaller states – Why?
Attorney General of NJ

5. Great Compromise (aka Connecticut Compromise)
Attempt to gain support of large and small states
Keep most of the Virginia Plan but split representation by the two houses

7. The Population Question
House of Representatives membership is based on population
What about slaves?
People
Property
Three-Fifths Compromise – for purposes of representation and taxation, slaves would be counted as 3/5 of a person.

8. :
HISTORICAL QUESTION: Why did the Founding Fathers keep slavery in the constitution if the Declaration claimed that all men are created equal?
1. Read documents and complete graphic organizer of multiple viewpoints – founding fathers and historians. Review.
2. Close Up – Answer these questions on the back of your chart:
Did these men realize slavery was a problem?
Who did think it was a problem and who did not?
For those who did think it was a problem, why didn’t they do anything to abolish slavery?