Name _____________________________ Class _________________ Date __________________
Origins of American Government
Section 4
MAIN IDEA
Delegates at the Constitutional Convention compromised on key issues to create
a plan for a strong national government.
Key Terms
Framers the delegates to the Constitutional Convention
Virginia Plan a proposed plan for government that called for a strong central government
divided into three branches—legislative, executive, and judicial—each with the power
to check the others; included a bicameral legislature in which membership would be
based on a state’s population
New Jersey Plan another proposed plan for government that called for a strong central
government divided into three branches; included a unicameral legislature in which each
state would get one vote
Great Compromise plan of government that combined elements of the Virginia and New
Jersey plans; included a bicameral legislature in which membership in one house would
be based on state population and membership in the other would be limited to two
members per state
Three-Fifths Compromise the resolution to a dispute over how enslaved people should
be counted within a population; provided that three-fifths of the enslaved people in a
state would be counted when determining a state’s population
Taking Notes
As you read, take notes on the writing of the U.S. Constitution. Record
your notes in the graphic organizer below.
Original content Copyright © by Holt McDougal. Additions and changes to the original content are the responsibility of the instructor.
Chapter 2
21
Interactive Reader and Study Guide
Name _____________________________ Class _________________ Date __________________
Section 4 continued
Section Summary
DRAFTING A NEW CONSTITUTION
On May 25, 1787, 12 of the 13 states—Rhode Island
chose not to participate—met in Philadelphia to revise
the Articles of Confederation—a task that would soon
change to designing an entirely new government.
Delegates kept all meeting proceedings confidential.
Each state received one vote and only a simple
majority was required for any decisions. Almost all of
the attendees had some form of government
experience, and many had served in the Continental
Army. George Washington served as president of the
convention. James Madison—now known as Father of
the Constitution—played a key role in planning the
convention and calling for a new government. Today,
all delegates at the convention are called Framers of
the Constitution.
RIVAL PLANS
Only days into the convention, it became clear to
delegates that the Articles of Confederation would
need to be replaced with a plan for a stronger
government. Two plans were proposed shortly
thereafter.
The Virginia Plan called for a strong central
government divided into three branches—legislative,
executive, and judicial—each with the power to check
the others, and included a bicameral legislature in
which membership would be based on a state’s
population. Members of the lower house would be
elected by the people, and members of the upper
house would be selected by the state legislatures. The
national government would be given several strong
powers, including those to make laws, control
interstate commerce, and override state laws. The
New Jersey Plan called for a strong central
government divided into three branches, and included
a unicameral legislature in which each state would get
one vote. Large states preferred the Virginia Plan, and
small states preferred the New Jersey Plan.
Did large states have more
voting power than small
states at the convention?
Explain.
_______________________
_______________________
_______________________
_______________________
What was the main
difference between the
Virginia and New Jersey
plans?
_______________________
_______________________
Original content Copyright © by Holt McDougal. Additions and changes to the original content are the responsibility of the instructor.
Chapter 2
22
Interactive Reader and Study Guide
Name _____________________________ Class _________________ Date __________________
Section 4 continued
CONFLICT AND COMPROMISE
After a long period of deadlock, delegates finally
agreed to an alternate plan on July 16, 1787. The
Great Compromise, as it became known, combined
elements of the Virginia and New Jersey plans. It
included a bicameral legislature in which membership
in the lower house, the House of Representatives,
would be based on state population and membership
in the upper house, the Senate, would be limited to
two members per state. House members would be
elected by the people and Senate members would be
selected by the state legislatures.
With a decision on the design of government
finalized, delegates next needed to compromise on
issues surrounding slavery. The first issue involved
how enslaved people should be counted as part of a
state’s population. The Three-Fifths Compromise
eventually settled this dispute between northern and
southern delegates by providing that three-fifths of the
enslaved people in a state would be counted when
determining a state’s population. Delegates also
reached a compromise on the future importation of
slaves, which the northern delegates resisted but
southern delegates supported. It was agreed that the
Atlantic slave trade would be protected from
interference by Congress until 1808—in exchange for
the agreement that only a simple majority would be
needed in each house of Congress to regulate
commerce.
Delegates also compromised on how the president
should be elected. The president would be chosen by
state electors—who themselves could be elected by
the people—unless no one candidate received a
majority of votes, in which case the House of
Representatives would choose the president.
By September 1787, a constitution reflecting the
delegates’ decisions and compromises was complete.
Thirty-nine delegates from 12 states signed the
document—three delegates abstained because of the
absence of a Bill of Rights—and the convention
adjourned on September 17. The American people
would now need to ratify the new U.S. Constitution.
How were enslaved people
counted as part of the
population under the
Three-Fifths Compromise?
_______________________
_______________________
_______________________
Why did a few delegates
choose not to sign the
Constitution?
_______________________
_______________________
_______________________
Original content Copyright © by Holt McDougal. Additions and changes to the original content are the responsibility of the instructor.
Chapter 2
23
Interactive Reader and Study Guide