The Constitutional Convention

Early United StatesI can describe how thirteen colonies evolved into the United States.

4 I can make inferences that go beyond what was taught in class or connect and explain the 3.0 learning targets independently.

3

Declaration of Independence describe the influence of John Locke on the Declaration of Independenceanalyze the significance of the Declaration of Independence

Articles of Confederationdescribe the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation

Constitutionanalyze the purpose and outcome of the Constitutional Conventiondescribe the influence of the Magna Carta on the Constitutiondescribe the influence of the Mayflower Compact on the Constitutiondescribe the influence of Montesquieu on the Constitution

Bill of Rightsanalyze the struggle between federalists and anti-federalists over the ratification of the Constitution describe the influence of the English Bill of Rights on the Constitutionanalyze the Bill of Rights

2 I can demonstrate an understanding of the basic ideas and details of the learning targets that score a 3.0 on the scale.

1 With help, I can demonstrate an understanding of the basic ideas and details of each of the learning targets that score a 3.0 on the scale.

0 Even with help, knowledge of the learning targets is not demonstrated.

The Constitutional ConventionDaily Learning Target - separate pages

1.4 -- I can explain the purpose of the Constitutional Convention

1.5 -- I can compare and contrast the details of the Virginia Plan and New Jersey Plan

I can describe how the Great Compromise resolved the conflict over representation in the Constitution

1.6 -- I can describe the compromise made over the issue of slavery

Key Terms● Federalism -

○ the distribution of power in [government] between the federal government (Washington DC) and the States

● Social Contract - ○ an actual or hypothetical agreement between a

community and its government; ○ people voluntarily give up rights for the benefits

of political [and social] order ■ (speech v censorship)

● Ratification - ○ to formally approve or sanction

● Natural Law - ○ a body of unchanging moral principles regarded

as a basis for all human conduct

Key TermsAdditional Vocabulary

● Branch

● Compromise

● Convention

● Executive

● Legislature

● Judiciary

● Amendment

● Majority

More

The Constitutional Convention● Review: What was the main goal of the First

Continental Congress?○ to avoid a tyrannical government

● After endless boundary disputes, trade issues, and Shays Rebellion…

● At the Annapolis Meeting of 5 states regarding trade, Alexander Hamilton called for a meeting of the States in Philadelphia to modify the A of C

● George Washington was nominated to head the convention

The Constitutional Convention● DLT 1.4

● Doors were locked and windows closed; the Convention proceedings were documented by James Madison (AKA The Father of the Constitution)

● The delegates agreed that the Articles were too weak and set upon writing a new Constitution

● By late 1787, what was the goal of the Second Continental Congress?

The Constitutional Convention● Read p. 245: Some Challenges of the

Constitution - Intro○ “have a gov’t strong enough to

protect people’s rights but not so strong as to oppress them”

● So what has changed from the First Continental Congress?○ to find a balance between Fed. & St.

govt (Federalism)

The Constitutional ConventionDLT 1.5 -- On the left-side page, draw a Venn Diagram like this one● Big States (VA) vs. Small States (NJ) Plan

○ population; and size

● Both wanted 3 branches of government○ executive (president)-- enforce laws○ legislative (congress) -- create laws○ judicial (supreme court)-- interpret laws

● Both wanted a system of checks & balances

● The problem was on how to elect representatives

Big States Plan vs Small States Plan

Virginia Plan New Jersey Plan

The Constitutional Convention● The Virginia Plan wanted representation of

the 2 houses of legislature based on a State’s population

○ lower house - popular sovereignty (elected by the people of a state)

○ upper house - elected by lower house

● The New Jersey Plan wanted single house legislature with equal representation -- 1 state; 1 vote

● Demonstration: ○ I am buying dinner at Dine-out Night

■ What would a King do?■ How does the VA Plan work?■ How does the NJ Plan work?

The Constitutional Convention

Big States Plan vs Small States Plan

Virginia Plan New Jersey Plan

- 3 branches

-checks & balances-Executive elected by Legislative

-Judicial appointed by Legislative

lower house - popular sovereignty (elected by the people of a state)

upper house - elected by lower house

single house legislature with equal representation

-- 1 state; 1 vote

The Constitutional Convention● The Great Compromise

● aka the The Connecticut Plan or Connecticut Compromise

● Roger Sherman proposed○ 2 houses○ The House of Representatives is based

on population○ The Senate is equal representation -- 1

state; 2 Senators

Did this solve the problem?

The Constitutional Convention● DLT 1.6 -- NO! What do you do with the slaves?

● Northern states had outlawed or were phasing out slavery and wanted it to spread to the entire country

● Southern agricultural states depended on slave labor

● Fearing that slavery would be outlawed, slave states threatened to break up the “union”

● To increase their number of representatives in the House, they wanted the slaves counted toward their population

The Constitutional Convention● 3/5th Compromise was agreed to

● This allowed States to count their slaves as 3/5ths for both their population and taxation purposes

● Example: NC has 100,000 slaves = 60,000 to be counted toward its population = 1 rep/15k ppl. = 4 more representatives

● They further agreed not to ban the slave trade until 1808

● Why does this matter?○ The South is OVERrepresented; can block

anti-slavery proposals

The Constitutional Convention

Daily Learning Target - separate pages

1.4 - I can describe the details of the Virginia Plan and New Jersey Plan

1.5 -- I can describe how the Great Compromise resolved the conflict over representation in the Constitution

1.6 -- I can describe the compromise made over the

issue of slavery in the Constitution