Transcript Virginia Plan New Jersey Plan

Chapter 7, Section 2
The Constitutional Convention
Chapter 7, Section 2
The Constitutional Convention
Section 2 Focus Question:
What role did compromise play in the creation of
the U.S. constitution? To begin answering this
question,
-Learn how the Constitutional Convention began.
-Understand the proposals in the Virginia Plan.
-Understand the terms of the Great Compromise.
-Understand how slavery issues influenced he
Constitution.
-Understand the sources of the new Constitution’s
authority.
The Constitutional Convention Begins
The Constitutional Convention begins
• The Constitutional Convention met in Philadelphia
in 1787.
• Delegates from all the states invited to a
convention to improve the Articles of
Confederation, which were not working
• Only RI didn’t attend
• 55 well educated delegates ranging in age from
under 30 to over 80 attended.
• At the start, it was decided to hold discussions in
secret so that there would be less public pressure.
• The convention’s purpose was to change the
Articles, but members agreed to organize a totally
new framework of government.
The Founding Fathers
GEORGE
WASHINGTON
(CHAIRMEN)
Was asked to preside over the convention.
JAMES MADISON kept notes of
the discussions and is often
called the “FATHER OF THE
CONSTITUTION”
BEN FRANKLIN
ALEXANDER
HAMILTON
Leaders of the Convention
• George Washington was asked to
preside (lead) over the convention.
• James Madison kept notes of the
discussions and is often called “The
Father of the Constitution.”
• The men who wrote the Constitution are
called the “Founding Fathers.”
• All the participants in the Convention
were wealthy, white, males.
THOMAS JEFFERSON, JOHN ADAMS,
THOMAS PAINE, JOHN HACOCK
& PATRICK HENRY DID NOT ATTEND
Issues that divided the Nation’s
leaders
• The power of the federal government. Would
the states or the federal government have the
most power?
• Representation in Congress (How many
members on Congress would each state get?
– small states wanted equal representation,
large states wanted it to be determined by
population of the states
• Slavery – How would slaves be counted?
Would the slave trade continue?
Why did delegates to the Constitutional
Convention keep the debates secret?
They wanted to be able to freely speak their
minds.
The Virginia Plan
Edmund Randolph of Virginia proposed a plan
for a new strong central government. James
Madison was the principal author of this
Virginia Plan.
-It called for a strong central government with
three branches instead of just one.
-A judicial branch would consist of a system
of courts to settle disputes involving national
issues.
The Virginia Plan (cont)
-A executive branch would have one chief
executive, or the President.
-Congress would make up the legislative
branch.
The Virginia Plan wanted to change Congress
in two ways.
1. It added a second house to Congress.
2. Each state was represented based on
population.
How was the national government organized
under the Virginia Plan?
It called for three branches of government
and representation based on state
population.
The Great Compromise
States with a small population opposed the
changes in the legislative branch.
-They offered their own plan, called the New
Jersey Plan which was introduced by William
Paterson.
-It called for a single house (bicameral) with
equal representation for each state.
-The Great Compromise settled the
disagreement between the large and small
states.
The Great Compromise (cont)
To please the large states, the House of
Representatives was developed.
-Each state’s representation in the House
was based on population and serve two-year
terms.
The Senate was formed to please the small
states.
-Each state would have two senators
serving six-year terms.
The compromise was a vital step in creating a
new Constitution.
Virginia Plan
- It called for a
bicameral
legislature, in
which the number
of representatives
in each house
would depend on
the population of
the state.
New Jersey Plan
- Both plans
called for a
strong
national
government
with 3
branches.
- It called for a
unicameral
legislature, in
which every state
received one vote.
Virginia Plan
- It called for a
bicameral legislature,
in which the number
of representatives in
each house would
depend on the
population of the
state.
New Jersey Plan
- Both plans
called for a
strong
national
government
with 3
branches.
- It called for a
unicameral
legislature, in
which every state
received one vote.
Great Compromise
• It provided for a bicameral Congress.
A. House of Representatives – each state is represented
according to its population (satisfied the VA Plan)
B. Senate – each state has 2 Senators (satisfied the NJ Plan)
* Both houses of Congress must pass every law.
What was the main difference between the
Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan?
The Virginia Plan called for a two-house
legislature with more representation for
larger states; the New Jersey Plan called for
a one-house legislature with equal
representation for all states.
Debates Over Slavery
Slavery divided the convention.
-The southern states which had more slaves,
wanted slaves counted toward
representation in the House.
-Northerners argued that slaves, who were
not allowed to vote, should not be counted.
It was agreed that each slave would count as
three fifths of a person. This was called the
Three-Fifths Compromise.
Three-Fifths
Compromise
• In order to
determine the
population of
a state, only 3
out of every 5
slaves would
be counted.
Debate Over Slavery
(cont)
A second dispute arose when northern
delegates called for a total ban on the buying
and selling of slaves.
-A compromise was reached whereby the
importation of slaves from other countries
could be banned in 20 years, while there
would be no restrictions of the slave trade
within the United States.
What was the Three-Fifths Compromise?
An agreement that for purposes of
representation each enslaved person would
count as three fifths of a person.
A New Constitution
After many weeks of debate, the delegates
agreed on all the terms of the Constitution.
-Governor Morris was largely responsible for
writing the Preamble or introduction. The
Preamble highlights a difference between the
Constitution and the Articles of
Confederation.
-By opening with “We the People of the
United States,” the Constitution made it clear
that its authority came from the people, not
the states.
What is the significance of the Constitution’s
first phrase: “We the People of the United
States”?
It demonstrates that the government is based
on the consent of the people.
Chapter 7, Section 2
The Constitutional Convention
What role did compromise play in the creation
of the U.S. constitution?
They compromised to come up with a plan for a
strong central government.