Creating the
Constitution
In this section you will learn
how state delegates attempted
to solve the problems of the
Articles of Confederation.
A Constitutional
Convention is called
The states send delegates to a
convention to solve the
problems of the Articles of
Confederation
*Delegates from 5 states meet
to create national trade laws
*Call for national meeting in
Philadelphia
*Afraid of rebellion, 12 states
(except Rhode Island) send
delegates
The Convention’s
Delegates
55 state delegates meet at
Constitutional Convention in
Philadelphia
Delegates include George Washington,
Benjamin Franklin,
One of the ablest delegates is James
Madison
James Madison
PRESENT
ABSENT
The Delegates Assemble
• Delegates want to create government
strong enough to maintain order
• But also want government that protects
people’s rights.
The Convention Begins
• George Washington elected president of
the Constitutional Convention.
• Delegates do not want decisions
influenced by political pressures
• To ensure this, they decide that
discussions will remain secret
The Virginia Plan
The Virginia Plan divides
government into 3 branches:
-legislature makes the laws
-executive enforces the laws
-judiciary interprets the laws
• Legislature has two houses
Representation is based on each state’s
population or wealth
• Larger states support the plan, smaller
states oppose
• Smaller states are afraid larger states will
control them
The
Virginia
Plan
FOR UNDERSTANDING
The purpose of the Constitutional Convention was:
1) to divide up the lands west of
the Appalachian Mountains.
2) to resolve problems with the
Articles of Confederation.
3) to declare independence from Great Britain
4) to set up a confederate governmental system.
.
The Constitutional Convention was
held in:
1) 1785
2) 1787
3) 1789
4) 1791
Who of the following was present at
the Constitutional Convention?
• 1) Thomas Jefferson
• 3) James Madison
• 2) John Adams
• 4) Patrick Henry
Who of the following was absent
from the Constitutional Convention?
• 1) George Washington
• 3) James Madison
• 2) Patrick Henry
• 4) Benjamin Franklin
______ served as the president
of the convention.
• 1) George Washington
• 3) James Madison
• 2) Benjamin Franklin
• 4) Edmond Randolph
The ______, proposed a government
with three branches.
• 1) Great
Compromise
• 3) Three-Fifths
Compromise
• 2) delegates from
Philadelphia
• 4) Virginia Plan
The three branches proposed
by the Virginia Plan were:
• 1) an executive, a
legislative, and a
congressional.
• 3) an elite, a
legislative, and a
judiciary.
• 2) an executive, a
litigious, and a
judiciary.
• 4) an executive, a
legislative, and a
judiciary.
New Jersey Plan
New Jersey Plan is an alternative
plan for U.S. government
-legislature has one house
-each state has one vote
• Delegates voted for the Virginia Plan over
the New Jersey Plan
• Delegates pass the Great Compromise
• Each state is given equal votes in the
senate: this satisfies the small states
• State’s population determines
representation in House of
Representatives: This satisfies the larger
states
The Great Compromise
• Delegates place few limits on Congress’s
power to regulate commerce
• Southerners succeed in banning Congress
from taxing imports
• Native Americans are not foreign nations
or part of separate states
Virginia Plan
New Jersey Plan
• The Legislative branch would
have two houses.
• Both houses in the Legislature
would assign representatives by
state population or wealth.
• The Legislature would have
one House.
• Each state would have one
vote in the Legislature.
The Great
Compromise
•The Legislature would have two houses.
•The Senate would give each state equal representation.
•The House of Representatives would have representation
according to state population.
Slavery And The
Constitution
• Southern states want slaves counted for
representation, not for taxes
• Northern states want slaves counted for
taxes, not for representation
• To solve the dispute, delegates agree to the
Three-Fifths Compromise
• 3/5 of slave population counts for direct
taxes
• 3/5 of slave population counts for
representation
• Debate, delegates agree that slave trade
cannot be banned until 1808
Regulating Trade
• On September 15, 1787 delegates approve
the Constitution
• Constitution sent to the states for
ratification
FOR UNDERSTANDING
The ______ proposed a legislature
with two houses, the members of
which were based on the population
and wealth of each state. The ______
suggested a single house where each
state had equal value.
• 1) Virginia Plan, New
Jersey Plan
• 3) Carolina Plan,
New York Plan
• 2) Madison Plan,
Randolph Plan
• 4) Monroe Plan,
Jefferson Plan
The ______ created a legislative
branch with two houses, one based
on the population of each state, and
one that gave an equal voice to each
state.
• 1) Virginia Plan
• 3) Great Compromise
• 2) Federalist Papers
• 4) New Jersey Plan
For purposes of taxation and
representation in the House of
Representatives, the ______ counted
slaves as partial citizens.
• 1) Three-Fifths
Compromise
• 2) Missouri
Compromise
• 3) Virginia Plan
• 4) Articles of
Confederation
Congress was granted the power to
regulate, promote and tax______,
make treaties, and be the sole coiner
of money.
• 1) slaves
• 3) exports
• 2) commerce
• 4) incomes