Constitutional compromises and plans new

Compromises and Plans

Compromises and PlansCreating the U.S. Constitution

Articles of Confederation1st constitution of the U.S.Established a system of cooperation or a league of friendship among the 13 independent statesSet up a 1-house legislature, each state had 1 vote (Congress)Congress was the only government body with control over the army and authority to deal with foreign countries on behalf of the states.Congress powers very limitedCongress had no power to enforce its laws and no power to taxArticles allowed the Congress to ask the states for money but not to demand it.

Weaknesses of the ArticlesCongress could not require the states to do anything.Congress could not pass a law unless 9 states voted in favor of itAny attempt to change the Articles required an unanimous vote of all 13 statesArticles did not provide for a governor or for courts.By early 1787, it was clear the national government needed to be stronger.

Constitutional Convention

Virginia PlanWritten by James Madisoncalled for a government with 3 brancheslegislative (the lawmakers)executive (carry out the laws)judicial-a system of courts- (interpret and apply laws)the legislature would be divided into 2 houses (states represented by population)large states would have more votes than small statesAppealed to delgates from Mass., Penn., N.Y., and Virginia

New Jersey PlanWritten by William Patterson3 branches of governmentlegislative branch would only have 1 house, and each state would get 1 vote, as they did under the Articlesmade smaller states equal to the larger statesAppealed to the delegates from Delaware, N.J., and Maryland

The Great CompromiseA committee headed by Roger Shemanlooked at both the Virginia and New Jersey Planssometimes known as the Connecticut PlanCongress will have 2 housesSenate-each state have equal representationHouse of Representatives -representation based on population

Three-Fifths Compromiseconcerning how to calculate the population for purposes of representationSouthern States wanted to count slaves, Northern States did notdelegates agreed=every five enslaved persons would count for three free personsused for representation Congress and in figuring taxes

Trade (Commerce) Compromise

The Presidency Compromise

Works CitedText:Civics Today: Citizenship, Economics, & You. McGraw-Hill Companies Inc.: Glencoe, 2005, pages 40-41, 55-57.Video:www.discoveryeducation.com (search Constitutional Convention)Images:www.google.com (search engine for each topic)http://regentsprep.org/regents/ushisgov/themes/government/convention.htm