Name________________________________
The Constitutional Convention
Chapter 2, Section 4
Pages 53-58
1. When did the Constitutional Convention of Philadelphia begin?
2. How many states sent delegates? Which state(s) did not?
I.
The Convention Begins
1. Whose presence would ensure that people would trust the Convention? Why?
2. What role did James Wilson (PA) and Gouverneur Morris (PA) play?
3. Why is James Madison (VA) considered the father of the Constitution?
4. Who was chosen to preside over the meetings?
5. How many votes did each state have? What was needed to make decisions?
6. Why do you think they decided to keep the convention a secret?
7. Explain three items the delegates agreed on.
II.
Decisions and Compromise
1. Who proposed the Virginia Plan and who wrote it?
2. Describe the 3 parts of the Virginia Plan.
3. What did delegates from smaller states realize about the Virginia Plan? Why were they
worried?
4. Explain the components of the New Jersey Plan and how it differed from the Virginia Plan.
5. Was the New Jersey Plan rejected or accepted?
6. What was the big question that had the convention at a deadlock?
7. Explain the Connecticut Compromise.
8. Explain why southern states wanted slaves to count for population but not taxes?
9. Explain the Three-Fifths Compromise
10. Describe the compromise dealing with commerce and the slave trade.
11. What is the only part of the constitution that deals with slavery?
12. If slavery was all but non-existent in the north, why didn’t the northern states push to have it
outlawed by the constitution?
13. When was the Constitution signed?
III.
Ratifying the Constitution
1. How many states needed to ratify the constitution for it to become the law of the land?
2. Federalists and Anti-Federalists split over the Constitution. Federalists were _____________ the
Constitution and Anti-Federalists were ___________________ the Constitution.
3. Describe the biggest argument for the Anti-Federalist? Did they win their argument?
4. What promise by the Federalists turned the tide in favor of the Constitution?
5. What is The Federalist?
6. What was the temporary capital?
7. Who was elected president? Who was his vice president?
8. What are the first 10 amendments called? When were they ratified?