Creating the Constitution CHAPTER 2 LESSON 4 Starter

Creating the Constitution CHAPTER 2 LESSON 4

Starter Questions What document established our first national government? Did that document prove too strong or too weak? Why? Who is considered the father of our Constitution?

Objective Students will be able to 1) understand the procedure by which the U. S. Constitution was created; and 2) understand the different compromises that were made during the Constitution’s creation. Articles Video Constitution Video

The Framers The 1787 Constitutional Convention convened in Philadelphia to revise the Articles of Confederation. It soon evolved into a meeting to create an entirely new government, deriving its power from a constitution. The delegates that attended the Convention in Philadelphia were known as Framers. Average was 42. Franklin was the oldest at 81; Alexander Hamilton was only 30 years old.

Organization They met in Independence Hall – same place where the Do. I was signed. George Washington was appointed president of the convention. Each state delegate would have one vote on all matters. A majority votes cast would carry any proposal.

Purpose As stated, the purpose of the convention at first was to revise the Articles; however, the Framers quickly decided to redefine the purpose to replace the Articles and to create a new government.

Proposals The Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan each offered an approach to organizing a new government.

Virginia Plan Largely the work of James Madison; Called for a new government with 3 separate branches; and a bicameral legislature with the number of representatives in each house being based on either the state’s population or the amount of money the state gave the central government.

Virginia Plan The plan also called for Congress to be able to veto any State law in conflict with national law; to be able to use force to make states obey national law. It also stated that the President and members of the Judiciary would be appointed by Congress.

New Jersey Plan Found the Virginia Plan to radical. Called for a unicameral legislature, with each of the states being equally represented; Called for a federal executive of more than one person.

Virginia Plan v. New Jersey Plan Major point of disagreement b/w the two plans centered on this question: How should the States be represented in Congress? Would it be based on population and financial contribution; or would the States be represented equally? Question: What problems would small, less populated states have with the Virginia Plan? Question: What problem would large states have with the New Jersey Plan?

Compromise The disagreement with how states would be represented in Congress was critical. The larger States expected to dominate the new government. The smaller states feared that they would not be able to protect their interests. Compromises had to be made.

Group Activity Each group is to become an expert on one of the two main compromises: Connecticut or Three-Fifths compromise. Answer Questions: 1) The Connecticut Compromise has been called “The Great Compromise. ” Do you think this is an appropriate term? Why or why not? 2) The Three-Fifths Compromise has been called “The Sectional Compromise. ” Do you think this is an appropriate term? Why or why not?

Group Organization

Answers 1) Possible response: Yes. This compromise resolved the issue of representation in Congress, which was so fundamental that progress would have stalled without it. 2) Possible response: Yes. The issue of how slaves would be counted for representation pitted southern States, which had the largest slave populations, against northern States, which had fewer slaves.

The Great Compromise **The Connecticut Compromise settled the differences. It was agreed that Congress would be composed of two houses: Senate (equal representation) and House (proportional representation). ** This compromise particularly pleased smaller, less populous states because they now had an equal voice in the Senate.

Three-Fifths Compromise Once it was agreed that representatives of the House would be based on each State’s population, this question arose: Should slaves be counted in figuring the populations of the States? Most delegates in the South argued that slaves should be counted; most northerners took the opposing view.

Three-Fifths Compromise At the time, slavery was legal in every state but one. The contradiction with the Declaration of Independence (“all men are created equal…. ”) was evident to all the Framers. The Framers agreed that “all free persons” should be counted, and so too, should “three fifths of all other persons. ”

Answers 1) The most populous States, such as Virginia, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and North Carolina, would have supported the Virginia Plan. With representation based on State population or ability to finance the National Government, large States would have more votes in Congress and therefore more power than small States. 2) Less populous States, such as Delaware, Rhode Island, Georgia, New Hampshire, and New Jersey, would have supported the New Jersey Plan. With each State equally represented in Congress, small States would have equal votes and equal power with large States.

Slave Trade Compromise Southerners, fearing that Congress would interfere with the slave trade insisted on protection. Issue: whether Congress would have the power to regulate foreign and interstate trade, including the slave trade. Resolution: Congress would regulate trade between states and with foreign countries; Congress could tax imports, not exports; Congress could not end the slave trade for at least 20 years.

Overall The Framers were dissatisfied with the details of the Constitution, but pleased with the broad principles. “Dr. Franklin, looking towards the president's chair, at the back of which a rising sun happened to be painted, observed to a few members near him, that painters had found it difficult to distinguish in their art a rising sun from a setting sun. "I have, " said he, "often and often in the course of this Session. . . looked at that behind the President without being able to tell whether it was rising or setting: But now at length I have the happiness to know that it is a rising and not a setting Sun. "

Political Cartoon How does the cartoon depict the Articles of Confederation? Why? How does the color of the sky change as Uncle Sam ascends? How does this detail contribute to the message of the cartoon?

Exit Ticket 1) The Virginia Plan called for a strong central government with a _____ legislature. 2) The New Jersey Plan called for a unicameral Congress with the states represented _____. 3) The ____ Compromise settled the issue of how the states would be represented in Congress. 4) The _______-_______ settled the problem of how slaves would be counted.

Quiz A Hand out Quiz A