Creating the New America:

The Role of Virginia and Famous Virginians

SOL VS 6a – 6c

Jennifer Amores-Kalich / Sugarland Elementary

We the people

establish justice insure peace and tranquility

provide for the common defence

promote the general welfare and

ensure the blessings of liberty

for ourselves and our posterity

do ordain and establish this Constitution

for the United States of America

in order to form a more perfect union

Vocabulary “pre-view” and Review

Constitution (noun) - a document written to state the basic laws and rules of a government.

Convention (noun) - a large meeting of members of a group for a common purpose.

Compromise (noun) - an agreement ; in order to reach an agreement, each person or side must give up some of its demands

Representatives from 12 states, including some members of the Continental Congress, held a convention to discuss and plan for the new government of the now independent United States.

The plan and document would be known as the Constitution. There was much arguing and debate, each representative or delegate had their own ideas:

We the people

establish justice insure peace and tranquility

provide for the common defence

promote the general welfare and

ensure the blessings of liberty

for ourselves and our posterity

do ordain and establish this Constitution

for the United States of America

in order to form a more perfect union

The freedom of speech

The freedom of the press

The freedom of religion

how about a small, weak government…

how about a big, strong government…

how about one main decision maker & leader, like a “king”…

How about each state doing their own thing…

Much later, James Madison suggested the “Virginia Plan.” The delegates finally agreed to compromise and everyone began to work towards a mutual acceptance of several ideas.

James Madison -

The Father of the Constitution

The Virginia Plan –

the idea of a legislative body made of 2 houses(groups or chambers) AND a strong, central government

George Washington - a General during the French & Indian War and the American Revolution; was elected the first President of the newly independent United States of America

Important Virginians “pre-view” and Review

The “Father of Our Country”

How did George Washingtonearn this special title?

George Mason - author of the Virginia Declaration of Rights ; he was a firm believer that people should have specific freedoms and rights such as:

The Freedom of Speech, The Freedom of Religion , The Freedom of a Fair Trial, and The Freedom to Participate in the Government through Elections

The Virginia Declaration of Rights became Virginia’s Constitution (the foundation of Virginia’s State Government).

It was the first of its kind in the newly independent United States of America.

How did Mason’s document, The Virginia Declaration of Rights laterinfluence Thomas Jefferson’s document,The Declaration of Independence?

George Mason’s work was not only influential for Thomas Jefferson, it was the biggest influence on creating the Bill of Rights of the Constitution of the United States of America.

Delegates at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania debated and debated for 16 weeks.

(That’s a very long time to discuss & argue and not reach your goals!)

The delegates of the newly independent United States of America were acting more like separate colonies than a “united” country.

Finally… after almost 4 months the delegates compromised and George Mason strongly encouraged delegates to amendthe Constitution to include theBill of Rights.

The state of Virginia became the 10th state to officially join the Union ( or The United States of America ) only after Mason was satisfied with the tenamendments to the Constitution document.

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More Helpful Vocabulary :

amend (verb) - to change laws, rules or governing plansexample sentence: The delegates argued because some wanted to amend the first set of laws in the document to be better.

amendments (noun) - the changes, revisions, or corrections made to rules, laws, or a planexample sentence: The first and original rules are not effective, the delegates must add amendments so the citizens will be protected and satisfied.

ratify (verb) - to approve a law, amendment, or treatyexample sentence: The delegates met for weeks and weeks because they kept discussing and arguing, it took a very long time to agree and ratify the final decisions about our laws.

Thomas Jefferson - main author of the Declaration of Independence, and later after the American Revolution in 1786, he wrote the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom

all people should be free

to worship as they please

basis for the FIRST AMENDMENT

of The Constitution

of the United States of AmericaDo you think the

FIRST AMENDMENT

is important, explain why?

James Madisonimportant representative or delegate at

the Constitutional Convention ;

he was very good with details and took very accurate notes during these crucial meetings ;

Madison was also a very skilled compromiser; and

He helped the delegates come to an agreement during the very difficult process of writing the Constitution of the United States of America.

How can you be a good compromiser like James Madison?

Quick Review Quiz ! I hope you’re ready…

George Washington accomplished many things during his adult life. What are the special titles and roles he earned?

“ General ” for the British Army during the French & Indian War

“ General ” for the Continental Army during the American Revolution

the first elected “ President ” of the newly independent United States of America

… there are many reasons why George Washington had important leadership rolesand is known as the “Father of Our Country.”

George Mason is a very important Virginian. How did his beliefs influence Thomas Jefferson and the creation of the Bill of Rights and the Constitution of the United States of America?

Mason believed that all Virginians must have certain rights: religious freedom, freedom for newspapers to write the truth, freedom for citizens to participate in their government, and the freedom for accused people to have a fair trial in court

These strong beliefs are the foundation of building our nation and organizing ourgovernment.

After the American Revolution, other important aspects such as the creation of our government also changed…

Virginia tobacco farmers were only allowed to sell their tobacco to England … what do you think happened to these farmers during and after the Revolutionary War against England?

The lives of many Virginian farmers and farm workers changed, especially the lives of those in the tobacco industry.

Remember: The Virginia colony was very dependent on agriculture, specifically on the growing & selling of tobacco.

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Kentucky

Tennessee

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Kentuckythe bordering state to our west

Tennesseethe bordering state to our southwest

Traditions (noun) - the inherited or established usual ways a person acts or behaves.

EXAMPLE: Your family has traditions you do for holidays and your family does these same special things every holiday.

Culture (noun) - the shared traditions, customs, beliefs, and values of a group of people.

EXAMPLE: Since the first Jamestown settlers came from England, they had the same culture as the people who were still back in England.

If your family originally came from another country, you probably do many of the same things as your relatives back in your homeland.

Your family took their traditions, ideas, & cultures with them to America.

Can you earn an “A” on this QUICK REVIEW ?

George Mason believed Virginians should have certain rights: freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of the press, freedom to participate in government elections, and freedom to have a fair trial.

T or F

Thomas Jefferson gave many ideas to George Mason when he wrote the Virginia Declaration of Rights.

T or F

Mason wrote the Virginia Declaration of Rights before the American Revolution and Mason’s writing influenced Thomas Jefferson when Jefferson was writing the Declaration of Independence during the American Revolution.

James Madison had many skills. He was a great compromiser and paid close attention to details during the Constitutional Convention. These are reasons why he is known as “The Father of the Constitution.”

T or F

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The migrating settlers crossed over the Appalachian Mountains through the Cumberland Gap.

Why did many Virginia farmers migrate west and south ?

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What did these Virginians take with them as they moved out of Virginia and into the west and south ?

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