1. Writing The US Constitution By John Callahan

2. Unit/Grade level/Lesson Creating a Republic 8th Grade The Constitutional Convention

3. Objective Students will learn the key people, terms and issues associated with the Constitutional Convention.

4. Rationale l As per ODE Social Studies standards, all 8th grade American History teachers must explain the political concepts expressed in the Constitution.

5. Articles of Confederation l Created a weak central government unable to hold the states together.

6. Shays’ Rebellion l Showed the American people that the Articles of Confederation did not work.

7. Constitutional Convention l Held at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

8. Convention Opens l May 25, 1787 the Constitutional Convention opened with the intention of revising the Articles of Confederation. Soon after the convention began it was decided that a whole new Constitution would be needed for the nation.

9. The Virginia Plan l Called for a strong national government. l 3 Branches: Checks and Balances Separation of Powers l Legislative - to make laws l Executive - to carry out laws l Judicial - to interpret laws

10. Virginia Plan l Bicameral Legislature l Representation in both Houses to be based on population.

11. New Jersey Plan l Like the Virginia Plan called for three branches of government. l Unicameral legislature with one representative per state regardless of population.

12. The Great Compromise l Roger Sherman of Connecticut l Bicameral Legislature l Upper House: Two Reps each state l Lower House: reps based pop.

13. Three-Fifths Compromise l Southern states: Count Slaves for representation but not taxation. l North: Count Slaves for taxes but not representation.

14. Signing l “I doubt… whether any other Convention… may be able to make a better Constitution… I cannot help expressing a wish that every member of the Convention who may still have objection to it… doubt a little of his own infallibility and put his name to this instrument. -B.F.

15. State Conventions l Once nine of the thirteen states endorsed it, the Constitution would go into effect. l Before that occurred, the Constitution was discussed and debated in all of the states.

16. Review Questions l What are the three branches of the national government and What do they do?

17. Vocabulary l Unicameral l Bicameral l Compromise

18. Review l What were the disagreements over slavery? l How were they resolved?

19. Internet l http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/b dsds/bdsdhome.html http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/b dsds/bdsdhome.html l Go to the above website and find three facts about the Constitutional Convention not covered in class.

20. Constructing Our Own Constitution l In groups of two, you will decide on two separate issues that need to be included in the Constitution of Mr. Callahan’s Classroom. l Next class, we will propose and debate the issues’ merit.