THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION 1787 Comparing Populations Find out

THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION 1787

Comparing Populations • Find out the populations of each state. • Rank the states on a note card from highest population (1) to lowest population (13) • Discuss where your state is on that list and what impact that might have on government issues

The Convention Organizes • The delegates chose George Washington to lead the meetings

The Convention Organizes • The delegates chose George Washington to lead the meetings • Delegates decided that each state would have one vote on all questions • Decisions would be based in a majority vote of the states present • Sessions would not be open to the public Windows were closed to keep anyone from listening, which made it possible for the delegates to talk freely

Proposed Plans for Government • Virginia Plan Edmund Randolph of Virginia proposed the Virginia Plan Read about the Virginia Plan on page 238 Write a short letter (1 paragraph) explaining the plan to your family back in your state Make sure you write from the perspective of your state

Bad Luck Brian…

Proposed Plans for Government • New Jersey Plan William Paterson proposed the New Jersey Plan to counter Randolph’s plan Read about the New Jersey Plan on page 239 Write a short letter (1 paragraph) explaining the plan to your family back in your state Make sure you write from the perspective of your state

Divisive Question: How should representation work in the legislature? • Virginia Plan: Population will determine number of representatives • New Jersey Plan: Each state will have the same number of representatives

Compromise: the settling of a dispute when each group agrees to give up some of its demands • Read • Write about the Great Compromise on page 240. a letter explaining the plan to the people of your state. Write why this plan will work or if it won’t work

THE GREAT COMPROMISE • Created a bicameral legislature • Bicameral = “ 2 chambers” 1. Senate • 100 members • Each state gets 2 2. House of Representatives • 435 members • Determined by population

Create a graphic organizer showing the Virginia Plan, New Jersey Plan, and the Great Compromise

Warm up: I see… I think… I wonder…

Pages 235 -236 Read “Slavery in the New Republic” • Where was slavery not a needed source of labor in the North? • Why did you think the South was so committed to keeping a slave-based economy?

The Issue of Slavery 1787 • Thomas Jefferson called slavery a “hideous blot” on America Owned 100 slaves • George Washington denounced slavery as “repugnant” Owned hundreds of slaves • James Madison condemned slavery as “evil” Owned 100 slaves

The Issue of Slavery 1787 • Look at the percentage of your state’s population who are slaves. • Write how the states might make decisions based on how many slaves they have

1% Should slaves be counted as part of a state’s population? 6% 0. 1% 0% 1% 1% 6% 10% 39% 26% 43% 35% 32%

The Issue of Slavery 1787 • Should slaves be counted as part of a state’s population? • Including slaves would give Southern states more representatives and votes in Congress Northern states say no Southern states say yes

The Issue of Slavery 1787 • Should slaves be counted as part of a state’s population? Northern states say no Southern states say yes • Solution: Three-fifths Compromise Every 5 slaves would count for 3 persons in the state’s population

Review: Issues at the Constitutional Convention 1787 • How should states be represented in the national government? GREAT COMPROMISE • Should slaves be counted in a state’s population? THREE-FIFTHS COMPROMISE