Unit 3: The Constitution
Unit 3 Objectives Identify the key leaders at the Constitutional Convention
Summarize the key issues and their resolution at the Constitutional Convention
Compare the Virginia and New Jersey Plans Explain the Great Compromise Define the 3/5th Compromise Describe the form of government established by the
Constitution Describe the debate over ratification of the Constitution,
and the views of the opposing sides. Explain the purpose of the Bill of Rights, and identify the
documents that informed it.
Constitutional Convention
The Founding Fathers made two attempts to establish a workable government based on republican principles
The failure of the Articles of Confederation led to a new Constitutional Convention
During the fall of 1787 Congressman met in Philadelphia to address the issues of the Articles of Confederation.
They created a new form of
government.
The Constitutional Convention, 1787
Key leaders at the Convention: George Washington: President (chairman) of the Convention Quiet but very respected; Kept tempers cool
James Madison: “The Father of the Constitution” Author of the Virginia Plan (three branches of govt) Kept detailed notes! Brilliant! Would later write the Bill of Rights
Constitutional CompromisesThey had to balance a lot of competing interests.
Constitutional Compromises: Balancing Power Between Large and Small States
Virginia Plan:• 2 houses of Congress (bicameral):
• House of Representatives • Senate
• Representation determined by population size in both houses
• More people more reps!• Big states liked this!
The Great CompromiseHow should states be represented in the govt?
• Also called Connecticut Compromise• 2 houses of Congress (bicameral): House of Representatives and a Senate• Senate: House of Reps Equal representation in Senate - Representation based on pop Each State gets two Senators - More people more reps! Elected by the state legislature/assembly - Reps elected by the people
New Jersey Plan:• 1 house of Congress (unicameral):
• House of Representatives only
• Representation determined by state: equal representation (like the AoC)
• One state one vote!• Small states liked this!
Constitutional Convention – Conflicts and Compromises
Northern States:• Slaves should NOT be
counted for representation, but SHOULD be counted for taxation.• This position was best
for the non-slavery states (mostly northern and smaller).
Southern States:• Slaves SHOULD be
counted for representation, but they should NOT be counted for taxation.• This position was best
for the slave-holding states (mostly southern with large #’s of slaves).
Three-Fifths (3/5th) Compromise
How should population be
counted for representation and
taxation?
• Count some of the slaves.
• For every 5 slaves, 3 would be counted for
population and taxation.
Constitutional Compromises: Balancing Sectional (Regional) Interests of the
States
Basic Principles of the Constitution
Federal law is the supreme law of the land, as long as it follows the Constitution. States have a lot of power to govern themselves, but they can’t go against a Federal law.
Popular Sovereignty (Rule by the people)• Power comes from the people’s
consent
Limited Government• Limited the powers of the Government
to those powers in the Constitution
Basic Principles of the Constitution
Separation of Powers• Three co-equal branches of
government• Legislative: Congress (makes the law)
Senate and House of Representatives• Executive: President (enforces the
law)• Judicial: Supreme Court (interprets
the law)
Checks and Balances• Each branch has some control over the
others• No branch can get too powerful
Basic Principles of the Constitution
Judicial Review• The courts (judicial branch) can
declare laws unconstitutional• This was added a few years later; not
in the Constitution!
Federalism• Power is shared between levels of
government: the national government and the states
FederalismNational
GovtState Govts
Check for Understanding
What was the location of the Constitutional Convention?
Who presided over the convention as chairman…why was he chosen?
What were the main issues discussed at the convention?
What did Great Compromise do?
What are the basic principles of the Constitution?
The Ratification Debate Ratification = Official approval Read the handout Ratifying the
Constitution and answer the questions on the separate page.
Ratification Before the Constitution could be put into
practice, it must be ratified, or officially approved by the states.• Each state set up a convention to
approve or reject the Constitution• Nine states had to accept the
Constitution for it to be ratified• Debate over Constitution -- (Federalists
and Anti-federalists) – What were their arguments?
Federalists: FOR Ratification Strong central government was good for solving
national issues:• Order and national security• Economic development• Commerce between states
Did NOT need a Bill of Rights, b/c the Constitution already protected citizens.
Separation of powers, checks & balances, and federalism protected states and citizens from a govt that was too powerful
Major Federalists: George Washington **Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay** (wrote
Federalist Papers to support ratification)
Anti-Federalists: AGAINST Ratification
Feared that a strong central government would take away rights of citizens and states, and would favor the rich and powerful
WANTED a Bill of Rights to protect individuals from power of govt. Refused to ratify w/o it (NY & VA)
Major Anti-Federalists: Patrick Henry, George Mason
* James Madison eventually agreed with them, and wrote the Bill of Rights!
The Bill of Rights
After the Federalists promise to add a Bill of Rights, states begin to ratify the Constitution (Delaware is 1st)
Bill of Rights is written by James Madison (a Federalist)
Heavily influenced by two Virginia documents:• The Virginia Declaration of Rights (1776) by George
Mason• The Virginia Statute of Religious Freedom (1786) by
Thomas Jefferson
Activity Review
• The VA Declaration of Rights and the VA Statute of Religious Freedom
• The Bill of Rights How did these two documents
influence the Bill of Rights and other founding principles of the United States?
Unit 3 Review Crash Course! Liberty Kids
