1. The Constitutional Convention Chapter 5-1 Civics

2. Agreement and Disagreement Many delegates agreed that a national government was needed. Agreed with idea of separation of powers, and wanted to divide power between states and national government. Sharply disagreed on issues such as how many representatives should each state have? How much power should the government be given?

3. Getting Organized Constitutional Convention- Pennsylvania State House on May 25, 1787. George Washington- selected as presiding officer by unanimous vote. Delegates agreed that the discussions would be kept secret over the fear of press releases. This would lead to delegates changing their minds based on public opinion.

4. Madison’s Plan Delegates voted not to revise the Articles. James Madison proposed a strong national government with an executive, judicial, and legislative branch. The legislative branch would have 2 parts; The House and the Senate. This was known as the Virginia Plan Many delegates feared that this plan would cause an overly strong national government, taking away powers from the state legislatures.

5. EXTRA FACT: James Madison was nickname was the “Father of the Constitution”.

6. Sharing Power The delegates debated on how the power would be shared between the national government and the states. One issue was the slave trade. Northern States- wanted the government to regulate trade and abolish slavery. Southern States- Opposed the idea of abolishing slavery because their plantations depended on it.

7. The Great Compromise Roger Sherman- called for a bicameral (2 house) government. House of Representatives- elected on basis of state population. Senate- 2 senators each regardless of population. This plan was known as the Great Compromise because each side gave up part of what it wanted in order to benefit all. Though no one was satisfied it was approved.

8. Ensuring Fairness The Great Compromise did not settle the issue of how to count state populations. Southern States- wanted to count slaves as whole people Northern States- objected because then the southern states would have more power in the House of Representatives. The Three-Fifths Compromise- counted each slave as 3/5 of a person when a state’s population was calculated

9. EXTRA FACT: The Constitutional Convention itself lasted 4 months and the discussion lasted 17 weeks.

10. Branches and Voting One president should be given executive power and broadly defined his duties. In the judicial branch they created a Supreme Court to interpret laws and settle conflicts between states. All eligible citizens (white men with property) would elect members of the House. State legislatures would elect senators A group of electors (the Electoral College) would select the president.

11. The Signing The Constitution was put in its final form. The convention closed with 39 delegates signing it on September 17, 1787. Those 39 were called “the Framers” because they shaped the form of our government. The government we use today is based of the one they made over 200 years ago