Writing the Constitution
8-3.2
#1 Why was the Philadelphia
Convention called?
I. Why a constitution?
A. The US was broke.
1. Depression and debt
effected SC and the rest of
the US.
B. The Philadelphia
Convention was called to
fix the Articles.
1. They were so bad they
were thrown out.
II. Representation
A. SC wanted a three branch government.
1. Executive branch enforces the laws.
2. Legislative branch makes laws.
3. Judicial branch judges the laws.
#2 Describe the Virginia Plan.
#3 Describe the New Jersey plan.
II. Representation
B. SC supported the Virginia
Plan.
1. Representation would be
based on a state’s
population.
2. Good for the large states.
C. SC was against the New
Jersey Plan.
1. Representation would be
equal with each state
getting two votes.
2. Good for the small states.
#4 What was the Great Compromise?
II. Representation
D. SC supported the Great
Compromise.
1. It created a 2 house
legislature (Congress).
2. House of Representatives is
based on population
(Virginia Plan).
3. Senate is equal with 2 votes
per state (New Jersey Plan).
#5 What was the 3/5 Compromise?
II. Representation
E. The problem was
what to do about
slaves.
1. SC and the southern
states wanted them
counted in the
population so the
numbers would be
higher.
2. Northern states felt
that would make the
numbers artificially
high.
II. Representation
F. The 3/5 Compromise settled the issue.
1. Each slave was counted as 3/5 of a person so the numbers were
a little higher.
2. SC did not like this.
#6 Describe the Commerce
Compromise.
III. Trade
A. SC was afraid that the gov’t
would try to control trade.
1. SC made its money from
exporting cash crops and
taxes would hurt that.
2. SC used slaves to grow cash
crops and taxes would hurt
that.
B. Compromise said the
federal gov’t could NOT
regulate trade in any way
for 20 years.
IV. Other issues
A. SC wanted a president
with lots of powers for
one term of 6 or 7 years.
B. SC also wanted only
landowners to be able to
hold office.
1. They thought landowners
had more to lose so they’d
work harder.
C. States have the ability to
choose who gets to vote.
#7 Where was the S.C. ratifying
convention held and why was this an
issue?
V. Ratification
A. Lowcountry and Upcountry
had plenty of tension.
1. The ratifying convention was
held in Charleston even
though Columbia was the
capital.
2. This made it hard for people
from Upcountry to travel.
3. Made it easier for those
from Lowcountry to
influence the vote.
#8 What were anti-federalists afraid
of?
V. Ratification
B. Federalists were mostly from
the Lowcountry.
1. They felt a strong gov’t would:
a)
b)
c)
Help SC’s economy.
Expand trade.
Be stronger in foreign affairs.
C. Anti-Federalists were mostly
from the Upcountry.
1. They felt a strong gov’t would:
a)
b)
Abuse the people.
Gov’t would be too far away to
help them.
#9 What did the delegates of the
Philadelphia Convention end up
writing?
#10 Which state was S.C. to join the
Union?
#11 What was add to the Constitution
because of the anti-federalists’ fears?
#12 Who is responsible for adding the
Bill of Rights?
V. Ratification
D. SC ratified the US
Constitution on May 23,
1788 and became the 8th
state.
E. Because of the antiFederalists, the Bill of
Rights was added.
1. The first 10 amendments.
2. This was done by the 1st
Congress.