Constitutional Convention: Uniting America's Vision

1. Starter • What are the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation?

2. Constitutional Convention

3. WHO, WHAT, AND WHERE • After 10 years, the flaws of the Articles of Confederation were obvious. • Delegates were sent to Philadelphia's Independence Hall to fix the flaws • All but Rhode Island sent delegates • Convention began May 25, 1787 with 55 influential men from 12 colonies

4. Key Decisions • George Washington was chosen to preside over meeting • Each state has one vote • Delegates would keep work of the convention a secret, because it would allow them to speak freely. • Decided to dispose of the Articles of Confederation and create a new plan of gov’t that was stronger

5. Two Plans of Government • the Virginia Plan- James Madison • 1. president 2. Courts 3. 2 house legislature Representation based on state’s population Plan appealed to large population states like, Mass, Penn, NY, VA • New Jersey Plan-William Paterson • 1. president 2. Courts 3. 1 House legislature representation would be equal vote • Plan appealed to small states like Delaware, NJ, Maryland

6. Compromises • Great Compromise: Roger Sherman-gov’t would have a 2 house legislature, 1 based on population, 1 based on equal representation • 3/5 Compromise: every 5 slaves counted as 3 people in the population • Electoral College: some felt Congress should chose president, others the peoples vote so settled on creating the Electoral College to chose the president based on the people’s vote

7. Ratification Race • The new Constitution must be approved by 9 of the 13 states • Supporters of the Constitution were called Federalists. Argued that needed a strong gov’t to protect the new nation. • In a series of essays known as The Federalist, John Jay, James Madison, and Alexander Hamilton defend the Constitution.

8. Approval • The Anti-federalists felt that the Constitution gave the national gov’t too much power that would take away rights of people. • The Federalists and Anti-Federalists agreed that a Bill of Rights would be added to the Constitution to protect rights of people • On June 21, 1788 NH become the 9th state to approve the Constitution making it the new gov’t of America

9. Topic: Constitutional Convention • Activity: Newspaper Article • You are to pretend that you are a newspaper journalist in May 1787. • Your assignment is to cover the Constitutional Convention. You are to read the assigned topic in the We The People book then summarize it into a newspaper article that gives all the important details and decisions. IF DON’t Have Book use text book or old civic books and divide topics • Since cameras have not been invented yet, you must draw a picture dealing with your topic to go along with your article. Remember to give your article a title. You will present article and drawing in class

10. We the People Topics: • 1. Who attended pp. 68-69 • 2. Rules pp. p. 70 • 3. Virginia Plan & New Jersey plan pp. 71 & 75 • 4. Compromises pp. 76-78 • Legislative Power p. 80 • 5. Executive power pp.81-82 • 6. Judicial power pp. 83 • 7. Anti-Federalists pp. 93-95 • 8. Federalists pp. 98-101