Constitutional Convention Debate in Philadelphia Presented By: Edgar, Christian, Celeste, and Enrique.

Constitutional Convention

Debate in Philadelphia

Presented By:

Edgar, Christian, Celeste, and Enrique

Delegates at the Convention

Alexander HamiltonRoger Sherman James Madison

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www.history.rochester.edu/.../ UPTO262.HTM www.bartleby.com/ 124/pres18.html

Problems & Solutions

• They had to revise the Articles of Confederation.

• They needed to strengthen the powers of the government.

• They had to be able to speak freely and to change their minds without fear.

• They made plans to send delegates to Philadelphia.

• They changed the Articles of Confederation at the Constitutional Convention.

• Guards were placed at the doors, windows were nailed shut, and they spread gravel on the street outside.

Problems and Solutions

• They couldn’t agree on a way to improve the Articles.

• They disagreed on the number of representatives for each state.

• They made many compromises.

• They debated over two plans.

Great Compromise

New Jersey PlanVirginia Plan

3/5 Compromise

The Virginia Plan• Proposed that Congress be given much greater

power over the states. It also said the national government should have an executive branch to carry out laws created by Congress. The Virginia Plan stated that the national government should have a judicial branch to interpret the laws passed by Congress.

• This plan also said that states with larger populations, like Virginia, should have more representatives in Congress than smaller states.

• They thought that their proposal was the best.

The New Jersey Plan

• This proposal made during the Constitutional Convention said that each state, large or small, should have the same number of representatives in Congress.

• The delegates who recommended this plan did not like the Virginia Plan.

James Madison

• Political Leader• Elected fourth

President of the United States in 1808

• A leader of the drive to approve the Constitution

www.constitution.org/ cs_image.htm

Roger Sherman

• Suggested that Congress should be made up of not just one part but of two parts, called houses

• This became known as the great Great Compromise

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Three-Fifths Compromise• This was an

agreement made stating that only three-fifths of the slaves would be counted.

• Enslaved people would be counted as part of a state’s population for both representation in Congress and for taxes.

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Alexander Hamilton• Delegate to the

Constitutional Convention and leader of the Federalists

• Lawyer• Appointed by George

Washington to serve as his aide in the American Revolution.

• First Secretary of the Treasury of the United States. www.answers.com/ topic/alexander-hamilton

Great Compromise

• An Agreement at the Constitutional Convention to create a Congress with two houses.

• First proposed by Roger Sherman of Connecticut.

The delegates overcame problems to create a new government that worked.

Delegates met in secrecy.

Delegates devised compromises.

Delegates debated important issues.

Conclusion

A New Government

can overturn laws

Can override Presidents veto

Can veto laws Congress has

passed

Can refuse to appoint judges

Appoints Supreme Court justises and other federal judges

Can overturn President's actions if it

finds them to be against the Constitution

LEGISLATIVE BRANCHCongress

Makes lawsEstablishes taxes

EXECUTIVE BRANCHPresident

Makes sure laws are carried outCommands the armed forces

JUDICIAL BRANCHSupreme Courts and other federal courts

Interprets, or decides, what laws mean, decides if laws follow the Constitution

THE THREE BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT

Something to Think About

• Why do you think that the Three Branches of Government is still being used more than 200 years later?

• What changes, if any, do you think should be made to the three branches of government ?