American Government Week 4 Part II: Constitutional Convention

1. Constitutional Convention
● Began May 25, 1787
● Who was elected president of the convention?

2. Constitutional Convention
● Began May 25, 1787
● Who was elected president of the convention?
- George Washington
● What rule did they pass right at the onset?

3. Constitutional Convention
● Began May 25, 1787
● Who was elected president of the convention?
- George Washington
● What rule did they pass right at the onset?
- a rule of secrecy; no leaks for 4 months!
● What does committee-of-the-whole mean?

4. Constitutional Convention
● Began May 25, 1787
● Who was elected president of the convention?
- George Washington
● What rule did they pass right at the onset?
- a rule of secrecy; no leaks for 4 months!
● What does committee-of-the-whole mean?
- the whole assembly could act as a committee thus
allowing for informal discussions & flexibility in voting
● What was their first major decision?

5. Constitutional Convention
● Began May 25, 1787
● Who was elected president of the convention?
- George Washington
● What rule did they pass right at the onset?
- a rule of secrecy; no leaks for 4 months!
● What does committee-of-the-whole mean?
- the whole assembly could act as a committee thus
allowing for informal discussions & flexibility in voting
● What was their first major decision? They decided to
replace the Articles of Confederation rather than just
reform them

6. Conflict: Representation
● What was the problem?

7. Conflict: Representation
● What was the problem?
- the large states (population & size) wanted a different
scheme of representation than the small states
● Who proposed the Virginia Plan?

8. Conflict: Representation
● What was the problem?
- the large states (population & size) wanted a different
scheme of representation than the small states
● Who proposed the Virginia Plan? James Madison
● Characteristics:
- favored large states b/c representation based on state
population
- strong bicameral (two houses) legislature w/ much more
power over the states
● How did the small states respond?

9. Conflict: Representation cont.
● New Jersey Plan Characteristics:
- unicameral legislation; one state, one vote
- smaller states did not want to be oppressed by the larger
states
● How was this conflict resolved?

10. Conflict: Representation cont.
● New Jersey Plan Characteristics:
- unicameral legislation; one state, one vote
- smaller states did not want to be oppressed by the larger
states
● How was this conflict resolved?
● Connecticut (or Great) Compromise by Roger Sherman:
● Characteristics?

11. Conflict: Representation cont.
● New Jersey Plan Characteristics:
- unicameral legislation; one state, one vote
- smaller states did not want to be oppressed by the larger
states
● How was this conflict resolved?
● Connecticut (or Great) Compromise by Roger Sherman:
● Characteristics?
- bicameral legislature
- lower house representation based on state population
- upper house representation would be equal for all states
● See chart on p. 81 for a good summary of the 2 plans

12. Conflict: Slavery
● The problem?

13. Conflict: Slavery
● The problem? How slaves should be represented
- slave-holding states: count slaves to determine
representation
- other states: slaves should not be counted
● What was the Three-Fifths Compromise?
- a slave = 3/5 of a person for representation purposes in
the House
- slaves would be taxed at this same rate
● Did this resolve the issue of slavery in the U.S.?

14. Conflict: Commerce
● The problem?

15. Conflict: Commerce
● The problem?
- All agreed that the national govt needed to deal with the
issue of regulating commerce but the South worried that
the slave trade would be done away with and that export
duties would be levied on their products
● Commerce Compromise:

16. Conflict: Commerce
● The problem?
- All agreed that the national govt needed to deal with the
issue of regulating commerce but the South worried that
the slave trade would be done away with and that export
duties would be levied on their products
● Commerce Compromise:
- Congress was given power over international and
interstate (between states) commerce
- Export duties not allowed
- Congress was not to interfere with the slave trade for 20
years

17. Other Interesting Compromises
● Electoral College (rather than the people or Congress)
would elect the President
● Treaties: President has power to make them but the
Senate must approve the treaties
● Do you agree with the text that compromise in the political
process is important and even desirable?

18. Founding Fathers
● Who are they?

19. Founding Fathers
● Who are they?
- Delegates to the Constitutional Convention & signers of
our important founding documents
● Who are were some of the most famous and influential?

20. Founding Fathers
● Who are they?
- Delegates to the Constitutional Convention & signers of
our important founding documents
● Who are were some of the most famous and influential?
James Madison Benjamin Franklin
George Washington Alexander Hamilton
Gouverneur Morris Roger Sherman
George Mason
● Which two founders were not at the convention?

21. Founding Fathers
● Who are they?
- Delegates to the Constitutional Convention & signers of
our important founding documents
● Who are were some of the most famous and influential?
James Madison Benjamin Franklin
George Washington Alexander Hamilton
Gouverneur Morris Roger Sherman
George Mason
● Which two founders were not at the convention?
- Thomas Jefferson & John Adams
● Which state did not send any delegates?

22. Founding Fathers
● Who are they?
- Delegates to the Constitutional Convention & signers of
our important founding documents
● Who are were some of the most famous and influential?
James Madison Benjamin Franklin
George Washington Alexander Hamilton
Gouverneur Morris Roger Sherman
George Mason
● Which two founders were not at the convention?
- Thomas Jefferson & John Adams
● Which state did not send any delegates? Rhode Island