Chapter 2, Section 3Convention Proceedings and Compromises

Overview

This section describes the proceedings of theConstitutional Convention. It explains why thedelegates decided to write a new constitutionrather than merely revise the Articles of Confed-eration. The section describes the major compro-mises that resolved disputes over proportionalrepresentation, the question of counting slavesas part of the population, and the power of Con-gress to regulate trade. The section discusses thesources of the Constitution and discusses howthe delegates completed their work by signingthe document they had prepared.

Lesson ObjectivesUpon completion of this lesson students will beable to:

• list decisions the delegates made in theopening days of the Convention.

• compare the Virginia Plan and the NewJersey Plan.

• describe the important compromisesreached by the Convention.

• explain the final steps of finishing theConstitution.

Motivating Activity

Present a problem of general interest to thestudents, such as requirements for passing acourse or requirements for serving on the stu-dent council. Have groups present different view-points and propose plans for revising theexisting rules or establishing new ones. Thenhave the class work out a compromise to satisfyeveryone. Discuss the process involved in com-promise.

Teaching Strategies

1. (basic/review) Divide the class into twogroups. Have one group outline and explain theVirginia Plan. Have the other group outline andexplain the New Jersey Plan. Representatives ofeach group should argue the merits of their plan.Then have the class indicate which points of eachplan were incorporated into the Constitution.2. (average) Display the overhead transpar-

ency: Parliamentary Government v. PresidentialGovernment, and discuss the similarities anddifferences between the two systems of govern-ment. Have the students draw similar diagramsto illustrate the systems proposed by the Vir-ginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan.3. (challenging/enrichment) Have groupsof students present the viewpoints of North-erners and Southerners regarding the questionof counting slaves as part of the population.Then have students explain the results of theThree-Fifths Compromise. Ask them to write anessay answering the questions raised in the text:Were the Framers showing their indirectapproval of slavery? Were they saying that ablack person was worth only "three fifths" of awhite person?

Extension Activities

1. (basic) Discuss the delegates' decision towrite a new constitution rather than merelyrevise the Articles of Confederation. Then havethe students prepare a chart listing the weak-nesses of the Articles. Next to each weakness,they should indicate how it was remedied by theConstitution.2. (average) Have the students categorize thestates in 1787 as large or small, Northern orSouthern. Then have them indicate what eachgroup of states gained by the compromises of theConvention and what each group lost by the com-promises. Ask the students to write a paragraphexplaining which group of states they think ben-efited most from the decisions of the Convention.3. (challenging) Have the students researchthe debate over the selection of a chief executive.They should find out what plans were suggestedfor choosing the executive, what terms of officewere proposed, and what titles were considered.Then have the students write an essay statingtheir opinions about a four-year term of officeand the Electoral College's role in electing thePresident.

Multimedia Resources

The Constitution — Evolution of a Govern-ment. Social Issues Resources Series, Inc.

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14 Lesson Plans