A Letter from James Madison

A Letter from James Madison Dear Fellow Delegates,Welcome to Independence Hall in the city of Philadelphia! As you know, you have been selected as a delegate to represent your home state during these proceedings. Our purpose is to discuss the defects found in our current government under the Articles of Confederation. Your input is not only desired, but necessary so that we can guarantee "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" to all Americans. I ask you to remember that whatever is said in these meetings is to be held in the strictest of confidence. Again, welcome to Philadelphia and thank you for helping to secure the best possible government for our country.

Sincerely, James Madison

Friday, January 15, 16

Welcome to PhiladelphiaWe would like to welcome delegates from twelve of the thirteen states. Rhode Island has chosen not to participate in this convention as we meet for the sole and express purpose of revising the Articles of Confederation...


Welcome to PhiladelphiaWithin hours of the convention meeting, a proposal has been made to and approved to scrap the Articles and start with a new governing document.

Why would these men risk treason (crime against ones country), many for a second time?


I am a delegate from _______, one of the 12 states represented at the Convention.

Fill out the demographic information for your state:Total Population:Free Population:Slave Population:

Location: New England - Middle - Southern

Economy:


Population

Is my state considered a large or small state?

Explain how you came to this determination.

(Hint: States with populations over 250,000 were considered large states. You may want to rank each state by population size.)


Issue #1Representation in Congress

How many representatives will each state get in the newly created Congress?


Representation


Representation

• Remember, under the Articles of Confederation each state received one vote no matter the size or importance of the state.


Representation


• How many representatives should each state get in the newly created Congress? Explain your answer. Remember that you are representing your state, and what is best for your state. Discuss with your group.


Representation


• How many representatives should each state get in the newly created Congress? Explain your answer. Remember that you are representing your state, and what is best for your state. Discuss with your group.

• Discuss your ideas with states that might be similar to your state.


Ideas for Representation


Ideas for Representation

What does your state dislike about the other plans for representation in Congress? Explain your thoughts.


Notes

Virginia Plan New Jersey Plan




How do the two plans compare?


Compromise


Compromise

• What is a compromise?


Compromise


• What would be a real life example of a compromise?


Compromise



• Is compromise always fair?


Compromise



• Is compromise always fair?

• What are the problems with compromise?


The “Great Compromise”

• Bicameral (2 House) Legislature

• Upper House (Senate) made up of two delegates from each state.

• Lower House (House of Representatives) based on population.



Analyze the Chart

What issues could you see arising based on the following chart?



Issue #2Slavery


Issue #2Slavery

How should the US Constitution deal with the issue of Slavery? Remember that you are representing your state, and what is best for your state. Discuss with your group.


Issue #2Slavery


Should slaves be counted for representation purposes? Remember that you are representing your state, and what is best for your state. Discuss with your group.


Issue #2Slavery


Should slaves be counted for representation purposes? Remember that you are representing your state, and what is best for your state. Discuss with your group.

Discuss your ideas with states that might be similar to your state.


Issue #2Slavery


Issue #2Slavery

• South: Wanted to count slaves in each state’s population but did not want to count slaves for each state’s tax purposes.


Issue #2Slavery


• North: Did not want to count slaves in the population for each state but count slaves for tax purposes.


Issue #2Slavery


• North: Did not want to count slaves in the population for each state but count slaves for tax purposes.

• How does counting slaves in your state’s population make any type of impact?



Issue #2Slavery


Issue #2Slavery

• What compromise could the North and South come up with over the issue of slavery?



Convention Info




A Letter from James Madison

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