Creating the Constitution

Chapter 2, Section 4

An assembly of “demi-gods.” – Thomas Jefferson

Question of the Day

Think of a recent conflict that you have read or heard about involving the local or National Government. What did they do or could they do to resolve the conflict?

In this section, you will learn how compromises saved the Constitution.

Objectives

• Identify the framers of the Constitution and discuss how the delegates organized the proceedings at the Philadelphia Convention.• Compare and contrast the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan for a new Constitution• Summarize the major compromises that the delegates agreed to make and the effects of those compromises• Describe the delegates' reactions to the Constitution as they completed their work.

Constitutional Convention

•Philadelphia – May 25, 1787•Purpose: To build a new government by writing a Constitution (to replace Articles)•Need: A stronger national government composed of a legislature, executive, and judiciary•12 of 13 states sent delegates (representatives) to convention (no Rhode Island)

Independence Hall

Philadelphia, PA

Framers

• Framers – group of delegates who attended Convention• Characteristics of the 55 delegates:

• Many fought in Revolution• 39 members of Continental Congress or Confederation• 7 state governors• 8 signed Declaration of Independence• 31 had attended college (rare)• Men of knowledge, experience, wealth, prestige• 2 would become Presidents, 1 Vice-President• Average age = 42 (half in 30s)

Framers of the Constitution

Organization & Procedures

• George Washington – elected President of convention• One vote for each state• Majority needed to pass any proposal• Rule of secrecy• James Madison – floor leader

• Contributed more to document than any other delegate

• “Father of the Constitution”

James Madison

“Father of the Constitution”

George Washington

Virginia Plan

• Three branches of government (executive, judicial, legislative)

• Bicameral (two house) legislature

• Representation in each house based on state’s population or amount of $ it gave to support central gov’t

• House of Representatives – popularly elected in each state

• Senate – chosen by House from lists of persons nominated by State legislatures

Virginia Plan (cont.)

• Congress would choose a “National Executive” and “National Judiciary”

• Could veto acts by Congress, but Congress could override

• National Executive – authority to enforce National laws

• National Judiciary – made up of one or more supreme courts and inferior courts

• Purpose: national gov’t with expanded powers AND power to enforce decisions•Small states opposed – thought plan was too radical

New Jersey Plan

• Congress – unicameral

• Each state equally represented in Congress• “Federal Executive”

• more than one President• Chosen by Congress• Could be removed at request of majority of States’

governors• “Federal Judiciary”

• single, supreme court• Chosen by Executive

The Big Debate

• How should the States be represented in Congress?

• By population or financial contribution? (Virginia Plan)

• Equal for each state? (NJ Plan)

Constitutional Compromises

• The Connecticut CompromiseDelegates agreed on a bicameral Congress, Senate segment with equal representation for States, and the House with representation proportionate to the States' populations. "The Great Compromise"

• The Three-Fifths CompromiseThe framers decided to count slaves as three-fifths of a person when determining the population of a State. States taxed 3/5 per slave to appease north.

• The Commerce and Slave Trade CompromiseCongress was forbidden from taxing exported goods, and was not allowed to act on the slave trade for 20 years. They were allowed to regulate trade.

A Bundle of Compromises

• Many differences of opinions (12 different states)

• All Agreed on….• A new national, federal gov’t had to be created• Representative gov’t• Limited gov’t • Separation of powers• Checks and balances

• Approved by delegates and signed on Sept. 17, 1787

Interesting Facts

•Alexander Hamilton was Killed by Aaron Burr in a duel in 1804•Rhode Island boycotted the Convention•Thomas Jefferson was in Paris as minister•John Hancock and Patrick Henry not there•“We the People” was added later•Jacob Shallus was given 2 days to pen

4,543 words

Section 4 Review

1. The first national government for the United States was(a) the First Continental Congress.(b) the Second Continental Congress.(c) the Articles of Confederation.(d) the Constitution of the United States.

2. The Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia involved delegates from each of the following states except

(a) Maryland.(b) Rhode Island.(c) New York.

(d) Virginia.

AssignmentWrite each of the following on one side of an index card:• Magna Carta, Petition of Right, Bill of Rights,

Albany Plan of Union, Stamp Act Congress, First Continental Congress, Declaration of Independence, Articles of Confederation, Virginia Plan, New Jersey Plan

On the backside, write the date and important facts about each item. Organize them chronologically. Who can show the class?