Constitutional Convention
Lesson Summary
A written plan of government is called
what?
1.
2.
3.
4.
Bill of Rights
Constitution
Amendment
Political Party
0%
14%
5%
81%
1
2
3
4
What is it called when 2 or more sides make an
agreement in which they get part of what they want
and part of what they don’t want?
1.
2.
3.
4.
Convention
Constitution
Amendment
Compromise
10%
0%
5%
86%
1
2
3
4
1st major Debate
• “Should we make changes to Articles of
Confederation or get something new?”
– Decision: Start with new constitution
Should we keep the Articles of Confederation
with changes or start a new constitution?
1. Keep the Articles
but make changes
2. Start a new
constitution
86%
14%
1
2
Virginia Plan
• Presented by Edmund Randolph
• Wanted 3 branches of gov.
– Legislative, Executive, Judicial
• Wanted # of representatives in Legislative
Branch from each state based on population
• Big state (population) = More votes in
Congress
• Who would favor this plan more?
Do you like the Virginia Plan?
1. Yes
2. No
62%
38%
1
2
The New Jersey Plan
• Presented by William Paterson
• Wanted 3 branches of Congress
– Legislative, Executive, Judicial
• Each State has one vote in Congress
• Small states = same power as big states
• Who would favor this plan more?
Do you like the New Jersey Plan
1. Yes
2. No
67%
33%
1
2
2nd major debate
• “Should representation in Congress be based
on population (Virginia Plan) or should all
states have the same # (NJ Plan)?”
– Decision: Great Compromise
Should we go with the Virginia Plan or
the New Jersey Plan?
1. Virginia Plan
2. New Jersey Plan
The Great Compromise
• Group called Congress will lead Legislative
Branch
• Congress split into 2 sections
– Senate- 2 from every state (NJ Plan)
– House of Representatives- # from each state
based on population (Virginia Plan)
3rd major debate
• Should slaves count into a state’s population
or not?
• Northern states said no…did not have any
• Southern states said yes…had many
– Decision: 3/5ths Compromise
Should slaves count into the
population of each state?
1. Each slave should
count as 1 person
2. Slaves should not
count as part of
population
Response Grid
0%
1
0%
2
3/5ths Compromise
• Each slave will count as 3/5 of a person when
figuring the # of people living in a state
– Did not have ANYTHING to do with giving slaves
the right to vote or ending slavery…simply
whether they would count into population
(census)
Approving the Constitution
• Agreed they would need 9 states to approve
• Should a Bill of Rights be added??
– Federalists- “NO!! It gives the national government strong
powers and one is not needed.”
– Anti-Federalists- “YES! We need a Bill of Rights to make
sure the strong national government does not take away
our rights!”
• Compromised by promising a “Bill of Rights” would be
added if it passed as written
• 9th state approved (New Hampshire) June 21st, 1788
• Bill of Rights added in 1791