Creating A Lasting Government
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Transcript of Creating A Lasting Government
Creating A Lasting Government
The Constitutional Convention-A Great Debate
Discuss the debate among delegates over the kind of national government that was needed.
Understand the compromises made as the national government was created.
Describe the powers granted to the executive and judicial branches.
Key Concepts
bicameralunicameral
James MadisonThe Virginia Plan
The New Jersey Planabolish
compromiseThe Great Compromise
Three-Fifths Compromise
Key terms
Agreement and Disagreement Getting Organized Virginia Plan vs. New Jersey Plan The Great Compromise Sharing Power The Slave Trade Reaching Compromise Executive and Judicial Branches The Signing of the Constitution
The Constitutional Convention – A Great Debate
As with any debate there are agreements and disagreements.
What most delegates agreed on:◦ A need for a national government, not just an alliance of
states.◦ A need to guard against abuse of power (Montesquieu’s
principle of separation of powers) ◦ A need for divided power between the states and the national
government What delegates sharply disagreed on:
◦ How much power the national government should be given◦ The number of representatives each state should have in a
national government◦ Slavery – How would slaves be counted? Would the slave
trade continue?
A Great Debate-Agreement and Disagreement
The Setting:◦ Who-Delegates◦ What-Constitutional Convention◦ Where-Pennsylvania State House in Philadelphia,
PA ◦ When-1787◦ Why-”…for the sole and express purpose of
revising the Articles of Confederation.”
A Great Debate-Getting Organized
On Friday, May 25, 1787, the convention began with the unanimous selection of George Washington as the presiding officer.
Along with a presiding officer, clear rules were needed to avoid confusion.
Several rules were adapted to keep the discussions secret. ◦ No one was allowed to remove notes from meeting
room.◦ Conversations about the proceedings could only took
place in the State House.◦ Doors and windows were to be kept shut.
A Great Debate-Getting Organized
George Washington (standing to the right) presiding over the delegates
Other rules for voting and behavior:◦ Each state had one vote regardless of its number of
delegates.◦ Debate rules allowed for each person’s opinion to be
heard.◦ No one was to whisper, pass notes, or read while
another delegate was speaking. The delegates met six days a week from 10:00
A.M. until 4:00 P.M., without stopping for a meal. Even though there were 55 delegates, an
average of 40 delegates were present on any given day.
A Great Debate-Getting Organized
On what issues did most delegates to the convention agree?◦ A need for a national government, not just an alliance of
states.◦ A need to guard against abuse of power (Montesquieu’s
principle of separation of powers) ◦ A need for divided power between the states and the national
government What decisions did the delegates make about secrecy
at the convention?◦ No one was allowed to remove notes from meeting room.◦ Conversations about the proceedings could only took place in
the State House.◦ Doors and windows were to be kept shut.
Checkpoint Questions
As one of their first acts, the delegates voted not to revise the Articles of Confederation.
Most of the delegates believed that government under the Articles was so weak that a new plan was needed.
Few delegates, believe it or not, had specific ideas about how to organize the new government.
One person who did have some definite ideas was James Madison of Virginia.
A Great Debate-What’s the Plan?
The Virginia Plan-Proposed by James Madison of Virginia (called for a strong national government to replace the alliance of states)◦Three branches of government◦Two house legislature◦Representation based on each state’s population
A Great Debate-What’s the Plan?
The New Jersey Plan-Proposed by William Patterson of New Jersey◦Three branches of government◦One house legislature◦Representation equal for all states
A Great Debate-What’s the Plan?
The Great Compromise-Proposed by Roger Sherman of Connecticut◦ Three branches of government◦ Like the Virginia Plan, it called for a bicameral, or two-house
legislature. The House of Representatives would be elected based on state
population. In the Senate, each state would have two senators regardless of
population.◦ This plan gave larger states more power in the House of
Representatives but equal power in the Senate.◦ This plan became known as the Great Compromise
because each side gave up part of what it wanted in order to benefit all.
◦ If both sides would have been unwilling to give and take, the convention probably would have failed.
A Great Debate-What’s the Plan?
What’s the Plan? The Great Compromise of 1787
Sharing Power◦ Many Delegates feared that a strong government
might abuse its power, treating the states much like England treated the colonies.
◦ Eventually, the delegates would decide which powers would be given to the national government, which would be kept by the states, and which the national and state government would share.
A Great Debate-What’s the Plan?
Slave Trade◦ One issue was whether each state would have the
power to either protect or abolish slave trade.◦ Several northern states wanted the national
government to regulate all trade and to outlaw slavery.◦ The southern states opposed this idea because their
plantations depended upon slave labor.◦ Because of the urgent need to form a new
government, the delegates compromised.◦ The agreement was that the national government
could regulate trade in general but it could not interfere with the slave trade until 1808.
A Great Debate-What’s the Plan?
The Question of How to count the state populations when determining representation in the House◦ Although slaves were treated as property, the
southern states wanted t count each slave as a person when figuring state population.
◦ Of course, the northern states objected that this would give the southern states more members in the House.
◦ What did the delegates do? They compromised.
A Great Debate-What’s the Plan?
This compromise counted each slave as three-fifths of a person when a state’s population was calculated.
The Executive and Judicial Branches◦ The delegates felt that the executive branch and
judicial branch were needed to provide for separation of powers.
◦ One president should be given executive power and a supreme court would have authority to interpret the laws and settle conflicts between states.
◦ The delegates generally agreed on the functions of each branch of government.
◦ They argued, however, about who should elect the President and the Congress.
A Great Debate-What’s the Plan?
The Question: Should all the citizens vote in a direct election or just the members of the state legislatures?◦ Some delegates argued for direct elections
because it would take into account the pinions of a wide variety of people.
◦ Others distrusted the people’s judgment.◦ Roger Sherman stated that the average citizens
“will never be sufficiently informed.”
A Great Debate-What’s the Plan?
Voting and Elections◦ As part of the Great Compromise, the delegates
decided that all eligible citizens-that is, white men with property-would elect members of the House.
◦ State legislatures would select senators.◦ A group of electors know as the Electoral College
would select the President.◦ Each state legislature could determine how that
state’s electors would be chosen.
A Great Debate-What’s the Plan?
The Signing◦ Throughout the summer of 1787, the delegates took up
resolution after resolution.◦ Finally, a committee put the Constitution into its final
form.◦ September 17, 1787, the convention drew to a close with
39 delegates signing the Constitution.◦ The delegates to the Constitutional Convention are often
called “the Framers” because they framed, or shaped, our form of government.
◦ Over the years, changes have been made in the Constitution.
◦ If “the Framers” could see their work today, they would still recognize the basic plan of government they created during that hot summer in 1787.
A Great Debate-What’s the Plan?The U.S. Constitution
Questions