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 housesRepresentation 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 theArticles of Confederation.3) to declare independence from Great Britain4) to set up a confederate governmental system.

.The Constitutional Convention was

held in:1) 17852) 17873) 17894) 1791

Who of the following was present at the Constitutional Convention?

• 1) Thomas Jefferson

• 2) John Adams

• 3) James Madison

• 4) Patrick Henry

Who of the following was absent from the Constitutional Convention?

• 3) James Madison

• 4) Benjamin Franklin

• 1) George Washington

• 2) Patrick Henry

______ served as the president of the convention.

• 1) George Washington

• 2) Benjamin Franklin

• 3) James Madison

• 4) Edmond Randolph

The ______, proposed a government with three branches.

• 1) Great Compromise

• 2) delegates from Philadelphia

• 3) Three-Fifths Compromise

• 4) Virginia Plan

The three branches proposed by the Virginia Plan were:

• 1) an executive, a legislative, and a congressional.

• 2) an executive, a litigious, and a judiciary.

• 3) an elite, a legislative, 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

The Great Compromise

• 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 Legislature would have two houses.

•The Senate would give each state equal representation.

•The House of Representatives would have representation according to state population.

Virginia Plan New Jersey Plan

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

• 2) Madison Plan, Randolph Plan

• 3) Carolina Plan, New York 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

• 2) Federalist Papers

• 3) Great Compromise

• 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

• 2) commerce

• 3) exports

• 4) incomes