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The Constitutional Convention. Chapter 5-1 Civics September 27, 2010. WARNING: Extra facts may appear at any time with music. Agreement and Disagreement. Many delegates agreed that a national government was needed.
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The Constitutional Convention Chapter 5-1 Civics September 27, 2010
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?
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.
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.
EXTRA FACT: James Madison was nickname was the “Father of the Constitution”.
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.
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.
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
EXTRA FACT: The Constitutional Convention itself lasted 4 months and the discussion lasted 17 weeks.
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.
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 the shaped the form of our government. • The government we use today is based of the one they made over 200 years ago
QUICK QUIZ: • What was James Madison’s nickname? • What does bicameral mean? • What caused the three-fifths compromise? (Hint: Northern and Southern…….) • Who elects senators? • Who elects the president?
