2. Bellwork:
Compromise: A settlement or agreement reached
between two sides, where each side gives
something to the other side.
Journal: Describe a time when you had to
compromise with someone. Who did you
compromise with and what was the compromise?
5. Upcoming Change
By the mid 1780’s most political leaders agreed the
Articles of Confederation need to be changed
Confederation Congress invited each state to send
delegates to a convention in Philadelphia
Would discuss ways to improve Articles of Confed.
Meeting was called The Constitutional Convention
12 states sent 55 delegates to the convention
Would lead to the creation of the U.S.
Constitution
6. Constitutional Convention
Key figures present:
James Madison
Benjamin Franklin
George Washington
Key figures absent
John Adams
Thomas Jefferson
How is our country being represented?
7. The Great Compromise
Some members wanted to make small changes
to the Articles of Confederation
Some wanted to rewrite the Articles completely
There were also disagreements between:
small and large states; based on how they would
be represented in the new government
about slavery
Economic issues such as tariffs
How strong to make the national government
8. Virginia Plan
Large-state plan
Written by James Madison
Would give sovereignty-supreme power, to the national
government
Divided the gov’t into three branches:
Executive, Judicial, Legislative
Legislature would be bicameral- two houses
# of representatives of the legislature would depend on state
population
This would benefit large states, giving them more
representatives
9. New Jersey Plan
Small-state plan
Proposed keeping Congress’ structure the same
Unicameral-one house legislature
This would give each state an equal # of votes
This would benefit smaller states, as large population had
no effect on the # of votes
Convention could not agree after months of debate
A compromise was reached
10. Great Compromise Cont’d
The Great CompromiseBroke the government into 3 Branches of
Government
Bicameral legislature:
Every state, regardless of its size would have an
equal vote in the upper house of the legislature
Senate
Each state would have a # of representatives
based on its population in the lower house of the
legislature
House of Representatives
11.
12. The Three-Fifths
Compromise
The debate over representation (how to count
people) also led to problems
Some Southern delegates wanted to count
slaves as part of their state populations
Northern delegates disagreed, thought it was
unfair
Delegates accepted the Three-Fifths
compromise.
Each slave would count as 3/5 of a person
(100 slaves = 60)
13. Main Concepts
Most of the delegates wanted
a strong national government
Popular Sovereignty- idea that political authority belongs
to the people
Balance power of national government with power of the
states
Federalism- sharing of power between a central
government and the states
Federal gov’t has power to enforce laws
States must obey authority of Federal gov’t
Federal gov’t has the power to use the military to enforce
laws
Troops are under the command of the president
States have control over areas not assigned to Federal
gov’t
14. Balance of Power
Legislative Branch: Congress
Proposes and passes laws
2 houses: Senate and House of Representatives
Executive Branch: President
Enforces laws, assures they are carried out
Commander-in-Chief of the military
Judicial Branch: Courts
Interprets laws, punishes criminals
Settles disputes between states
15. Checks and Balances
Kept one branch from gaining too much power
Ex:
Congress proposes and passes laws
President can veto, or reject, that law
Congress can override veto with a 2/3 majority vote
Judicial Branch interprets laws to keep other
branches from abusing power
Supreme Court reviews laws passed by Congress
16. Federalists vs.
Antifederalists
Antifederalists- those that opposed the constitution
Felt the central gov’t had too much power
Upset that no Bill of Rights was included
Federalists- supported the constitution
Felt it offered a good balance of power
Federalist Papers- essays written supporting the
Constitution
Many written by James Madison and Alexander
Hamilton
Propaganda supporting the Constitution
17. Ratification
The Constitution needed approval of 9 states to
become ratified
Each state held conventions to give citizens the
chance to discuss the Constitution
They could then vote whether or not to ratify it
June 1788, Constitution was ratified
18. Bill of Rights
Amendments- official changes, corrections, or
additions
The Bill of Rights would appear as a series of
Amendments to the Constitution
The first 10 amendments to the Constitution are
known as the Bill of Rights
Made sure the abuses listed in the Declaration of
Independence would be illegal
Would protect citizens’ individual rights
19. Constitution’s flexibility
Has clear guidelines and principles
Can be changed and updated to stay current with
new times and challenges
Often called a “living constitution”
