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

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.

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

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

7. 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

8. 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)

9. 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

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

11. 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

12. 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?

13. 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

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

15. 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

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

17. Checking for Understanding

18. 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

19. 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)

20. 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