Unit 4: A Growing Nation
Big Idea: Growth and Change
The United States established a new
government and grew larger as more
people arrived and lands were acquired.
We will:
Discuss some of the major problems
faced by the writers of the
Constitution
Realize how the Constitution se cures
our liberty
How our new laws affected the Native
Americans
Address some of the changes the United
States faced in the early 1800’s
Chapter 8: The Constitution
Lesson 1: The Constitutional
Convention
We will: Describe how the Constitution
set up the government of the United
States
Explain the importance of the Great
Compromise
Vocabulary:
Arsenal
Bill
Federal system
Republic
Compromise
Read: You Are There
The Constitutional Convention meets to
fix the Articles of Confederation.
What’s wrong?
Reasons for Change:
In 1786 and 1787, violent protests in
Massachusetts drew attention to the
national government’s inability to keep
order.
Every state had a powerful governor.
There was no national court system to
settle any disputes.
Daniel Shays- led a rebellion against a
Massachusetts arsenal because of the
unfair treatment of farmers.
Arsenal- A building used by the military
as a weapons’ storehouse
James Madison Vs Patrick Henry
Madison argued that the country needed
a stronger national government.
Patrick Henry did not agree. He
believed that the Patriots had died to stop
being ruled by a strong central
government.
In 1787 all states except Rhode Island
sent delegates to a convention in
Philadelphia to “fix” the Articles.
The Work Begins:
At the Constitutional Convention,
delegates debated issues, especially the
relationship between the states and the
national government. In the end, they
strengthened the federal system.
George Washington was chosen to be
president of the Constitutional
Convention.
Edmund Randolph of Virginia- asked the
delegates to do away with the Articles of
Confederation and write a new plan of
government.
Federal System- a system of government
where the power to govern is shared
between states and a national
government.
The National or Federal government
would have power over matters that
concerned the nation as a whole.
Republic- the people choose
representatives to run the government.
The Virginia Plan-(Edmund Randolph)
Congress would have two parts, or
houses. The number of representatives
that a state would have in each house
would be determined by the state’s
population.
The New Jersey Plan- (William
Paterson) New Congress would have one
house, in which each state would be
equally represented. Gave smaller states
equal representation.
Working Together:
Delegates realized that each side had to
compromise to complete the
Constitution. They agreed on the Great
Compromise, which balanced the
congressional power of populous states
with that of less populous ones.
Compromise- to give something up in
order to get some of what is wanted.
The Connecticut Compromise- twohouse Congress: In one house,
representation would be based on
population. In the other house,
representation would be equal.
Bill- an idea for a new law. This could
be presented by either house of
Congress. However, both houses had to
approve a bill before it became a law.
Compromises on Slavery:
Under the Three Fifths Compromise, a
state could count three-fifths of its
enslaved residents in determining how
many representatives it would have in
Congress.
Aside from voting, the southern states
also worried that the Constitution barred
slavery . In order for the Compromise to
pass, southern states were allowed to
import slaves until 1808. However, after
1808 they could still be bought and sold
in states that allowed slavery.
Questions 1-4 Page 322