The Constitutional Convention
Opened on May 25, 1787
Philadelphia, PA
55 delegates attended from all states (except RI)
“The Father of the Constitution”
James Madison came to Philadelphia prepared, having read a variety of books on
how to structure a government
I can’t hear what
they’re saying…the
windows are closed
The delegates kept their talks secret; they didn’t want outside pressure influencing their
decisions so…they closed the windows
Wow! It’s hot in
here
The closed windows made it extremely hot inside. New Englanders, who were
accustomed to dressing in woolen suits, suffered terribly from the summer heat
It’s too weak
Throw it out
Drain that 3!
Soon after the convention began, the delegates
realized they couldn’t revise the Articles, instead
they decided to write an entirely new Constitution
Edmund Randolph
James Madison
THE VIRGINIA PLAN
(favored by large states)
Called for a strong national government
3 branches (Legislative, Executive, and Judicial)
 Legislative
2 houses
Seats awarded by state population
 Executive
 Judicial
William Paterson
THE NEW JERSEY PLAN
(favored by small states)
3 branches (Legislative, Executive, and Judicial)
 Legislative
1 house
Each state had 1 vote (regardless of population)
 Executive
 Judicial
Combined the VA and NJ Plans
THE GREAT COMPROMISE
(satisfied large and small states)
3 branches (Legislative, Executive, and Judicial)
2 houses
Senate
Each state gets 2 Senators
 House of Representatives
Seats awarded by state population
Roger Sherman
Northerners did NOT want slaves to count
towards a state’s population
Southerners wanted slaves to count
towards a state’s population
3/5 Compromise
3/5 of the slaves in a state
would be counted towards
the state population
So if a state had 5,000 slaves,
3,000 would count
The Constitutional Convention
Signed on September 17, 1787
Philadelphia, PA
All delegates (but 3) signed it
 9 states needed to endorse it to go into effect
The American Revolution
(for Students) video
 Take notes on the short video clip on the
Constitutional Convention
 Must have at least 5 bullets
If the answer is…
A)
B)
C)
D)
shout I LOVE HISTORY!
put your right hand on your head
stand up and flex like GR (Mr. B. will demonstrate)
stand up, cluck like a chicken, and flap your wings (Ms. D’Abbene will demonstrate)
1) All of the following were true of the Constitutional
Convention EXCEPT …
A.
B.
C.
D.
The meetings were open to the public.
The meetings were very hot since it was summer time.
The windows were closed to keep the debates secret.
Twelve of the states were represented.
If the answer is…
A)
B)
C)
D)
shout I LOVE HISTORY!
put your right hand on your head
stand up and flex like GR (Mr. B. will demonstrate)
stand up, cluck like a chicken, and flap your wings (Ms. D’Abbene will demonstrate)
2) Which of the following was true of James Madison?
A. He challenged Benjamin Franklin to a basketball shooting
game of PIG in Independence Hall.
B. He fainted at the Constitutional Convention because it was
so hot.
C. He was the oldest delegate at the Constitutional Convention.
D. He was called the “Father of the Constitution” because he
strongly influenced other delegates.
If the answer is…
A)
B)
C)
D)
shout I LOVE HISTORY!
put your right hand on your head
stand up and flex like GR (Mr. B. will demonstrate)
stand up, cluck like a chicken, and flap your wings (Ms. D’Abbene will demonstrate)
3) In the Constitution, what fraction of the slaves in a state
were included?
determining representation in Congress?
A. one quarter
B. one half
C. three fifths
D. one tenth
If the answer is…
A)
B)
C)
D)
shout I LOVE HISTORY!
put your right hand on your head
stand up and flex like GR (Mr. B. will demonstrate)
stand up, cluck like a chicken, and flap your wings (Ms. D’Abbene will demonstrate)
4) Why did small states favor the New Jersey Plan?
A. Representatives in the legislature were selected according to
state population.
B. All states had equal representation in the legislature.
C. The plan was similar to their state constitutions.
D. It banned slavery in the southern states.
If the answer is…
A)
B)
C)
D)
shout I LOVE HISTORY!
put your right hand on your head
stand up and flex like GR (Mr. B. will demonstrate)
stand up, cluck like a chicken, and flap your wings (Ms. D’Abbene will demonstrate)
5) Which of these resolved the conflict between the two plans,
The Virginia and New Jersey Plans?
A.
B.
C.
D.
The Great Compromise
The Mayflower Compact
The Declaration of Independence
The GR Lifting Plan
Take out your
Chapters 6/7 Test Review
and work on it
independently