The Constitutional Convention

Constitutional Convention Outcome: I can describe the purpose of the Constitutional Convention and how the convention addressed regional differences when framing the new constitution. Warm Up: Examine the image. What problems do you think the new constitution will try to solve?

Thursday, October 21, 2021 Outcome: I can describe the purpose of the Constitutional Convention and how the convention addressed regional differences when framing the new constitution. Agenda: • Warm up, Welcome, Homework, Agenda (5 min) • The Making of the Constitution (7 min) • Image Analysis: Who’s at the table? (5 min) • Everyone’s got an Issue: Representation (15 min) • The Great Compromise: Problem Solved! (time remaining)

Image Analysis: Examining Truth Outcome: I can describe the purpose of the Constitutional Convention and how the convention addressed regional differences when framing the new constitution.

The Making of the Constitution As you read, highlight & make notes on the text. In 1787, 55 delegates from the new states met in Philadelphia. These delegates were all white men, with an average age of 44. Their goal was to make changes to the Articles of Confederation and to strengthen the central government. Fill out the chart as you watch the video provided. http://drive.google.com/file/d/1YsoFHhjMWcyYpvf82GZVBnlggBLfwV4_/view Outcome: I can describe the purpose of the Constitutional Convention and how the convention addressed regional differences when framing the new constitution.

Issue #1: Large & Small State Representation As you read, highlight & make notes on the text. Under the Articles of Confederation, there was a Congress (decision-making group) made up of one representative (person who votes) from each state. The delegates agreed they wanted to keep a Congress in the new government. However, the states with more people, like Virginia, New York, and Massachusetts, felt that they should have more representatives than the less populated states like New Jersey, Maryland, and Georgia. To them it wasn’t fair that each state got one vote if they had four or five times as many people in their state. The less populated (smaller amount of people) states disagreed. They argued that there would be no point for them to send a representative to vote if other states could just out-vote them all the time with their extra representatives. Both sides had good points. Outcome: I can describe the purpose of the Constitutional Convention and how the convention addressed regional differences when framing the new constitution.

Issue #1: The First Option…The Virginia Plan As you read, highlight & make notes on the text. The Virginia Plan called for a strong national government with three branches or parts. A legislative branch, or Congress, would make laws. An executive branch would carry out the laws. A judicial branch, or system of courts, would apply and interpret laws. Under the Virginia Plan, Congress was to be made up of two houses, the House of Representatives and the Senate. The number of lawmakers that a state could send to Congress depended on its population. States with a large number of people would have more representatives than smaller states. Delegates from Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York, and other large states liked the Virginia Plan. Having the new government represent people, not states, would give them more representatives and power in both houses of Congress. • Drafted by James Madison • Proposed a strong national government with three branches of government (legislative, executive, judicial) • Bicameral legislature (two houses) • Representation in the legislature would be based on population (as determined by the census) Outcome: I can describe the purpose of the Constitutional Convention and how the convention addressed regional differences when framing the new constitution.

Issue #1: The Second Option…The New Jersey Plan As you read, highlight & make notes on the text. Delegates from small states disliked the Virginia Plan. Just as the convention was about to vote on it, William Paterson of New Jersey introduced another plan. Like the Virginia Plan, the New Jersey Plan called for a government with three branches. However, the legislative branch would have just one house, not two. And each state would have an equal vote in Congress, no matter how big or small. This plan, Paterson argued, would keep the small states from being “swallowed up” by their larger neighbors. Delegates from small states liked the New Jersey Plan. However, most of the delegates thought it was not much better than the Articles of Confederation. • A national government consisting of three branches • Unicameral legislature (one house) • Representation in the legislation would be equal for each state (one per state) Outcome: I can describe the purpose of the Constitutional Convention and how the convention addressed regional differences when framing the new constitution.

Graded Slide Issue #1: Weighing the Plans List the main points of each plan in the chart. Outcome: I can describe the purpose of the Constitutional Convention and how the convention addressed regional differences when framing the new constitution.

Issue #1: Problem Solved! As you read, highlight & make notes on the text. Resolution: The Great Compromise! There was a very serious debate over the issue of representation. At one point, a representative from Delaware threatened that the smaller states would leave the Union. Finally, a compromise was suggested based on a plan put forward by Roger Sherman of Connecticut. The compromise plan kept a two-house Congress. The first house, the House of Representatives, would represent the people. In this house, the number of representatives from each state would be based on the state’s population. The second house, the Senate, would represent the states. Each state would have two senators, to be elected by their state legislatures. The vote was very close, but the compromise plan was approved. This plan saved the convention and became known as the Great Compromise. Outcome: I can describe the purpose of the Constitutional Convention and how the convention addressed regional differences when framing the new constitution.

Graded Slide Issue #1: Problem Solved! As you read, highlight & make notes on the text. Excerpt from the Great Compromise: “[State] Representatives and direct Taxes shall be apportioned [divided and shared] among the several States which may be included within this Union... The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each State, chosen by the Legislature thereof, for six Years; and each Senator shall have one Vote.” Outcome: I can describe the purpose of the Constitutional Convention and how the convention addressed regional differences when framing the new constitution.

Constitutional Convention – Virginia Plan and New Jersey Plan When the convention began, most delegates believed that their task was to revise the Articles of Confederation. To their surprise, the Virginia delegation presented them with a completely new plan of government. After a lengthy debate, the delegates made a bold move. They agreed to throw out the Articles of Confederation and write a new constitution. While the delegates—later known as the framers—agreed to design a new framework of government, they were divided on a key issue. Where should the government's power to rule come from? From the states (equal representation)? Or from the people (representation by population)?

Large states = more than 200,000 Small states = less than 200,000 Use the chart to answer the following questions: • How many representatives would large states have under the Virginia Plan? • How many representatives would small states have under the Virginia Plan? • How many representatives would large states have under the New Jersey Plan? • How many representatives would small states have under the New Jersey Plan? • Large or small: Which would prefer the Virginia Plan? • Large or small: Which would prefer the New Jersey Plan?

NOW, imagine YOU are a delegate at the Constitutional Convention. There is obviously a division in the convention about how representation will be determined. If YOU were there, what compromise do you think could be done so the convention doesn’t end with nothing done? Explain your idea below. Feel free to borrow ideas from the other plans but remember, it’s representation that is really causing an issue!

The Constitutional Convention