AIM: Why is the U.S. Constitution
Considered a Bundle of Compromises?
Do Now: Copy Vocabulary Below:
Compromise: A settlement of differences in which each
side makes concessions and meet in the middle.
Constitutional Convention: meeting in Philadelphia to
write a new plan of gov’t to replace the Articles of
Confederation (AOC).
US Constitution: written laws that govern the United
States
Preamble: is the beginning of the Constitution that explains
why it was written
Flexibility/ Amendment Process: being able to change
our constitution with the times with our amendment process
Does the cartoon below represent a compromise? Yes or no? Explain.
The Constitutional Convention
In 1787, fifty-five delegates met in Philadelphia because they all
agreed that the Articles of Confederation were NOT working.
They had to come up with a better plan. They wanted the central
government to be strong. But they also wanted to make sure
that it didn’t abuse its power like the British Parliament had
done.
Forming A New Government: What’s the best plan?
Delegates at the convention had many different ideas
about how to create a stronger central government but
agreeing on a plan that would work for everyone wasn’t
easy. First, they had to resolve a number of problems.
Problems in the Colonies
Problem # 1: How many votes a state had in Congress was a problem. The large
states wanted representation to be determined by population. The smaller states
wanted all states to be equally represented.
Problem # 2: The Southern states with large slave populations wanted slaves to
count towards representation in the House, but not for tax purposes. The Northern
states felt slaves (considered property) should be taxed but not represented.
Problem # 3: Colonists who opposed slavery wanted the slave trade abolished
(ended) but supporters of slavery wanted the slave trade to continue (business as
usual).
Problem # 4: Southerners exported many agricultural goods, especially cotton to
Britain. They did not want the federal government to be allowed to put tariffs (or
taxes) on their exports. Northern business interests wanted tariffs to protect them
from foreign competition.
Problem # 5: There was a general agreement on the need for a president but the
question of how long the term of office should be was a problem. Suggestions
ranged from three years to life. Some people wanted the president directly elected
by the people but others mistrusted the people.
Let’s see if your group came up with the same solutions
as the framers?
Read , Five Constitutional Compromises
Complete your graphic organizers based
on the text
Problem # 1: How many votes a state had in Congress was a
problem. The large states wanted representation to be
determined by population. The smaller states wanted all
states to be equally represented.
Suggested Plans
The Virginia Plan
The New Jersey Plan
The larger states favored the
Virginia Plan proposed by Sir
Edmund Rudolf which stated…
The smaller states favored the
New Jersey Plan proposed by
William Patterson which stated…
•Each state would have a different
number of representatives in
Congress based on the state's
population.
•No matter how many people live
in a state the number of
representatives in Congress would
be the same for each state.
•National Government would have
3 Branches (Executive, Legislative
and Judicial).
•National Government would have
2 parts (The Senate and the
House of Representatives).
Problem # 1: How many votes a state had in Congress was a problem.
The large states wanted representation to be determined by population.
The smaller states wanted all states to be equally represented.
Compromise: Connecticut offered a compromise: a
bicamerial (two house) legislature with equal state
representation in the Senate and representation according to
state population in the House of Representatives.
Bi-camerial Congress= (Two House)
Equal # of
Representatives
Each state gets
2 senators
# of
Representatives
Determined by
State Population
Problem # 2: The Southern states with large slave populations
wanted slaves to count towards representation in the House, but
not for tax purposes. The Northern states felt slaves (considered
property) should be taxed but not represented.
Compromise: It was finally agreed that each five slaves
would be counted as three persons for both taxation and
representation purposes.
=
According to the 3/5th Compromise, how many white
people are there? How many slaves?
According to the 3/5th Compromise, how many white
people are there? How many slaves?
Problem # 3: (Slavery) Colonists who opposed slavery wanted
the slave trade abolished (ended) but supporters of slavery
wanted the slave trade to continue (business as usual).
Compromise: They succeeded in having the importation of
slavery forbidden after 1808. However, slavery itself would be
aloud to exist.
PLANTATION
ABOLISHED
STILL O.K.
Problem # 4 (Tariffs): Southerners exported many
agricultural goods, especially cotton to Britain. They did not
want the federal government to be allowed to put tariffs (or
taxes) on their exports. Northern business interests wanted
tariffs to protect them from foreign competition.
Compromise: Congress was given the authority to tax
imports (goods entering the country) but forbidden to tax
exports.
Problem # 5: There was a general agreement on the need for
a president but the question of how long the term of office
should be was a problem. Suggestions ranged from three
years to life. Some people wanted the president directly
elected by the people but others mistrusted the people.
Compromise: (The Presidency) Presidents may serve a
four year term office and elections would be indirect through
the “electoral college” system.
Task 1: Form Your Own Continental Congress
• Working in groups of 4, debate one of the five
problems that the colonies faced. (5 mins)
• Two students must represent the South and
two students must represent the North. See if
you can come up with one compromise to
solve your particular problem.
• Be ready to share your solution with the whole
class.