Bellwork:
Have Buckle Down lesson 9 out on your desk, ready to
review
Class work
OAT REVIEW
Ch 8.3 Class Reading
Read to remember
Take notes: use note sheets
Answer the following questions:
Read to discover questions pg 236. Copy the question
Define the following: Constitutional Convention, Virginia
Plan, New Jersey Plan, 3/5 Compromise, Federalism
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?
8.3 and 8.4
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
Constitutional Convention
Key figures present:
James Madison
Benjamin Franklin
George Washington
Key figures absent
John Adams
Thomas Jefferson
How is our country being represented?
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
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
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.
Great Compromise Cont’d
Convention could not agree after months of debate
A compromise was reached
The Great CompromiseEvery 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
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)
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
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
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
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
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
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
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”
Bellwork: Map Skills
Have out Chapter 8 Note sheet to be checked
Answer questions on page 243
According to the map, which states had the most
complete federalist support?
In what month and year did the first three states ratify
the constitution?
Which states are the most anti-federalist?
Bellwork Answers
① Delaware and New Jersey
② December 1787
③ New York, North Carolina, Rhode Island
Group Work
In your groups, complete the OAT Review Packet
Read the Packet together!
Answer the questions together as you read
Double check that your answers are correct. Use the
text!
Only one answer sheet per group needs to be turned
in.