Creating the Constitution Chapter 4 – Section 3 -- Pgs. 125-130 -- Standard 8.2

Objectives: Today we will learn about the constitution. So we can identify the ideals it expresses continues to serve as the basis of the U.S. Gov. We will know we understand when we can identify the issues which arose when creating the doc. and the solutions delegates agreed to uphold.

Constitutional Convention Feb 1787: Confederation Congress invited delegates from each state to convention in Philadelphia May 1787: Constitutional Convention held Where: Independence Hall Goal: To improve the Articles of Confederation

Meeting in Philadelphia Most delegates were highly educated & had served in gov. already (state legislature or Congress) Ben Franklin James Madison War hero George Washington was elected President of the Convention

Some were absent John Adams & Thomas Jefferson could not attend Patrick Henry chose NOT to attend (did not like idea of a stronger central gov.) No women, African Americans or Native Americans because they did not have suffrage

What would the delegates disagree about? Small & large states had different ideas about representation Economic concerns = tariffs Slavery Strength of the national gov.

Virginia Plan Meetings held for 4 days Edmund Randolph (Virginia) presented the Virginia Plan Federal constitution Would give sovereignty (supreme power) to central gov. Bicameral legislature 2 houses (groups of reps), chosen on basis of state pop. Larger states = more reps

New Jersey Plan William Paterson (New Jersey) presented small state plan or New Jersey Plan Unicameral legislature Each state had equal # of votes = equal voice in the federal gov. Would give Federal gov. the power to tax citizens in all states Would allow the gov. to regulate commerce (trade)

The Great Compromise Month of meeting/debating left delegates deadlocked, no decision Roger Sherman (Conn.) proposed compromise plan 2 houses Upper House/Senate: Each state had 2 reps no matter the size of the state Lower House/House of Reps: # of reps based on pop of state

America still has regional/state Issues SOUTH: Enslaved African Americans COUNTED towards population NORTH Enslaved African Americans NOT COUNTED towards population

Three-Fifths Compromise Each slave would be counted as three-fifths a person when determining reps in gov. Another issue was the idea of slavery itself Northern states wanted it banned by Fed. Gov. Southern states said their economies needed slavery & they would leave the Union is slavery was banned

Another Compromise: Slavery All delegates agreed to end slave trade in 20 years Oliver Ellsworth: “The morality or wisdom of slavery…are considerations belonging to the states themselves.” Reflection Q: What does this quote mean?

The Living Constitution Most delegates wanted a strong central gov. However, still wanted popular sovereignty (power belongs to the people) Also, knew that they needed to create a document that would hold these ideas in the future with unforeseen issues would arise

Federalist Government Balance of power needed between Fed. Gov. and states = federalism The sharing of power between central gov & states

Federal Gov. (Central Gov.) State Power States must obey the authority of the Fed Gov. State Power Control what the Fed. Gov. does not control Local gov. Education Chartering of corporations Supervision of religious bodies Can create and oversee civil & criminal law Must protect citizens

Separation of Power Legislative Executive Judicial Checks and balances keep any branch from becoming too powerful

Checking for Understanding

Three-Fifths Compromise Directions: Identify the problems that led to the Great Compromise and the Three-Fifths Compromise. -What conflicting ideas were proposed? -What was the eventual solution that created a compromise? Great Compromise Three-Fifths Compromise Problem Conflicting Ideas Solution

Three-Fifths Compromise Great Compromise Three-Fifths Compromise States disagreeing about… Representation Economic concerns (tariffs) Slavery Power of national gov. Problem Regional problem Should slaves be counted as part of the pop? Supreme power given to central/federal/national gov.? Reps/votes based on pop. of state? Equal # of votes in one-house legislature? Conflicting Ideas North: No, can be counted for taxes but not reps South: Yes, counted for reps (allowing for reps in Lower house of Congress) Two-house (Bicameral) legislature All states: 2 reps in Senate Lower house: reps TBD by state pop. Solution A slave would be counted as three-fifths a person when determining population (# of reps)

Articles of Confederation vs. The Constitution On your sheet of paper you will be creating a visual to demonstrate the ideas which changed and the ideas which stayed the same. Use your notes and the textbook to create a visual which demonstrates the differences and similarities between the two documents. What changed for the Federal Gov.? What changed for the states? How will this impact the people of the United States? Articles of Confederation vs. The Constitution