The Constitutional Convention: Chapter 5.1

Essential Questions:

What was the Constitutional Convention?

What was determined to be essential for our gov’t?

What conflicts arose around the creation of the Constitution?

Vocabulary:

Bicameral

In your notes:

List anything that you know about our Constitution.

Share with a partner.

The Constitutional Convention Had Articles of

Confederation, but realized federal gov’t. not strong enough.

1787- Congress approved a convention to revise the Articles

Getting Organized

Convention held in Philadelphia where Declaration of Independence had been signed

May 25, 1787- begins George Washington chosen

as the presiding officer

Madison’s Plan

First, delegates voted not to revise the Articles of Confederation

Needed new plan, but most did not have specific ideas

Madison’s Plan

James Madison- VA delegate

Had a definite planStrong national governmentLegislative, executive, and judicial branches

Madison’s Plan

Legislative branch would have two parts (to make laws)○House of Representatives-

member would be chosen directly by the people

○Senate – members would be chosen by the House

Madison’s Plan

○# of seats in the House and the Senate would be based on each state’s population

With a partner,

What was the purpose of the Constitutional Convention?

Draw a picture to explain Madison’s plan.

Compromises About Congress How many representatives

would each state have in Congress?

Madison’s Plan = # determined by population

Compromises About Congress Large states would dominate

Congress Small states proposed a

plan from William Paterson (NJ)1 house legislature; each

state have the same #

Great Compromise

Plan called for a Bicameral – two house legislature

House of Representatives would based on state population

Senate – each state would have 2 senators

Compromises About Congress The Three-Fifths

CompromiseHad to decide how to count the population in a state

Should slaves be counted?

Compromises About Congress South – Yes North - No Agreed to count each

slave as 3/5 of a person

In your notes,

Explain the 2 conflicts that arose around the Constitution?

The Executive and Judicial Branches Executive Branch

One President instead of a committee of leaders

Defined powers and duties of the President

The Executive and Judicial Branches Judicial Branch

Created the Supreme CourtWould have authority to interpret laws

Would settle conflicts between states

The Executive and Judicial Branches President would be chosen

by a group of electors known as the Electoral College

Each state legislature would determine # of electors for Electoral College

The Signing

September 17, 1787 – Signed Constitution

delegates often called the “Framers” – formed the government

With a partner,

What was determined to be the essential parts of the new government?

What was the purpose of each part?