Chapter 10
Lesson 2

THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION
At the Constitutional Convention, a group of leaders wrote the
Constitution, a new plan for a stronger national government.

THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION
In the same hall where George
Washington was appointed the commander of the Continental Army and the Declaration of Independence was signed, 55 delegates meet again to rewrite the first form of government over this new nation.

THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION
 The delegates that arrived were among the smartest men in the country, had fought in the
American Revolution, and had taken part in writing their state’s constitutions.
 George Washington was unanimously elected leader of the convention.
 They decided the work would be completed in secret.

THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION
 Read page 345
 What was the goal of the delegates?
 Do you think George Washington was the best choice to lead the convention? Why or why not?
 Why did the delegates want to keep their work secret?

THE VIRGINIA PLAN
 James Madison came up with the Virginia Plan
 This plan stated:
 Congress be given greater power over the states
 An executive branch be developed to carry out laws created by Congress.
 A Judicial branch be created to interpret laws
Congress creates.
 Larger states should have more representatives in
Congress than smaller states. (This means a bigger say in which laws are passed)

THE VIRGINIA PLAN
Do you think bigger states should have more say in what laws are passed and not passed? Why do you think so?
vs

THE NEW JERSEY PLAN
 New Jersey was a small state with a smaller population.
 The new Jersey plan said that each state, large or small, would have the same number of representatives in
Congress.
 This would give all states an equal voice in which bills become laws.

LARGE STATES VS. SMALL STATES

TIME TO READ
 Read page 346
 What are the points of view of both the Virginia and New Jersey Plans?
 Which plan do you most agree with?
Why or why not?

THE GREAT COMPROMISE
House of
Representatives
Senate
 To satisfy both the large states and the small states, a compromise was formed.
 Congress would be split into two houses:
 The Senate would be formed by an equal number of representatives from each state
 The House of Representatives would determine the number of representatives a state gets by the size of the state’s population.

ANOTHER PROBLEM TO SOLVE
 Since the House of Representatives would determine representatives based on population, so slaves in the south count toward that population?

ANOTHER PROBLEM TO SOLVE
 Southern states wanted slaves to count when it came to representation, but not when it came to being taxed and would cost the south more money.

ANOTHER PROBLEM TO SOLVE
 Northern states, that did not have a large slave population, objected.
 Northern States Southern States

THREE-FIFTHS COMPROMISE
 Enslaved people would be counted as part of the state’s population for a representative count.
 Only 3/5ths of that total number would go toward the final population count.

THREE-FIFTHS COMPROMISE
 Congress also agreed not to restrict the slave trade for the next 20 years.
 20 years later, Congress voted to outlaw the importing of slaves into the United States.

THREE-FIFTHS COMPROMISE
 Why do you think the
Congress agreed to wait for 20 years when there were states that thought slavery was wrong?

TIME TO READ AND THINK
 Read page 347
 What were the important ideas of the
Great Compromise?
 Why do you think the Three-Fifths
Compromise was accepted?

THINK ABOUT THE 2 PLANS
 Complete the Venn Diagram in your notes:
3/5
Compromise
The Great
Compromise

THE CONSTITUTION IS ADOPTED

LET’S HAVE SOME FUN

KID’S STUFF

THE PREAMBLE
 The Preamble sets out the major goals:
 to establish justice
 to ensure peace
 to defend the nation
 to protect the people’s liberty and well being

POWERS OF THE GOVERNMENT
 The national government can:
 make laws about trade with other countries
 make coins and paper money for the whole country
 establish the armed forces
 enter into agreements with other countries
 tax the states

RESERVED POWERS
 These are powers that are left only for the states:
 managing education
 overseeing elections
 The Federal government and the states share some powers:
 managing roads
 passing tax laws

THE BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT

BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT
 Legislative Branch
 makes the laws
Congress
House of
Representatives Senate
A bill must pass with 2/3 vote

BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT
 Executive Branch
 carries out the laws
Headed by the President
 Commands the armed forces
 Can veto laws passed by
Congress
 Appoints judges and Supreme
Court Justices

BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT
 Judicial Branch
 decides what laws mean
 decides if laws follow the
Constitution
 can overturn laws that are unconstitutional
 can overturn President’s actions if they are unconstitutional

BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT
 The idea behind the three branches of government was to separate the powers of government and keep one branch from getting too much power (like a
King)

TIME TO READ AND THINK
 Read pages 348-350
 Explain why the separation of powers was the key to creating a new government for the United States.