The Constitutional Convention
A New Plan of Government
Crafting a More Perfect Union
• Why something that took place 22o years ago mattersThe Constitutional Convention
– Granted unprecedented (never before seen) power to
people to choose their own leaders.
– The new nation’s success or failure rested in the hands of
the people.
– It was a brave, new experiment in self-rule.
– At 220 years, the United States is the oldest constitutional
democracy.
• “A Republic if you can keep it.”
– What did Benjamin Franklin mean when he said this to the
woman who approached him?
Drafting a New Constitution
• May 1787, the U.S. is on the verge of crisis
– Using what you have learned, why is the United States
on the verge of crisis?
• 55 delegates attend the convention and all are
referred to today as the Framers. All varied in age
from Jonathan Dayton 26 to Benjamin Franklin 81
• All charged with the task of doing away with the
coming crisis
Benjamin Franklin
Pennsylvania
Roger Sherman
Connecticut
Alexander Hamilton
NY
The Framers
Edmund Randolph
Virginia
James Madison
Virginia
William Paterson
New Jersey
Rival Plans
Virginia Plan
New Jersey
Plan
The Great
Compromise
Central Government divided into three
branches.
Central government divided into three
branches
Central government divided into three
branches
Strong national government that could make
laws, levy taxes and override state laws
Desired a weaker central government that
could not override state laws
Strong central government but all branches
sharing power (checks and balances); States
must adhere to federal law but apply it
according to its customs; National court system
with power to overturn state laws
Bicameral Legislature
Unicameral legislature
Bicameral legislature
Membership based on state population, with
more populous states having a greater number
of representatives
Each state would have one vote, giving equal
representation to each state regardless of
population
House of representatives based on state’s
population and Upper House (Senate) would
have two members regardless of population
The Great
Compromise