Constitutional Convention Simulation
75
ORALLY What was the Constitutional Convention? When did it take place? How many delegates? What were they like?
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Transcript of Constitutional Convention Simulation
ORALLY
What was the Constitutional Convention?
When did it take place?
How many delegates? What were they like?
1. Describe the backgrounds of the delegates to the Constitutional Convention and the historical context
2. Debate and compromise on key issues that emerged at the convention
Assessment: Daily and Reflection at the
end. Many things we do and say are on the
test, so PAY ATTENTION.
When the lights go off, the date will change.
We are going back in time….
Today’s date is May 25, 1787. (lights, howling wind, sound effects…)
It is May 25, 1787. Your state has chosen
YOU to come to Philadelphia to resolve the
problems created by the Articles of
Confederation. You will take on the
persona of an actual delegate who attended
the Constitutional Convention.
There will be THREE phases:
1. Opening the Convention
2. Debating the Issues
3. Signing the Constitution
PHASE ONE
Independence Hall, Philadelphia, PA
Independence Hall, Philadelphia, PA
Pennsylvania State House 1787Use your senses. Smell the wood burning in the chimney. Feel the hot, humid weather. Look at the
people outside. Hear them whispering about the famous people walking in.
Signing of the Constitution
By Louis S. Glanzman (1987)
The Assembly Room, Independence Hall
(formerly, The East Room, Penn. State House)
The “Rising Sun Chair”
1. Explain props & tools.
2. Put on your name tag.
3. Read your BIOGRAPHY. Take on the PERSONA of your delegate! Fill out Delegate Sheet part one only.
4. Use the MASK appropriately.
1. Come up front as I call your state.
2. I will introduce you. Take a bow.
3. Not present?
- Rhode Island
- Thomas Jefferson & John Adams
- Patrick Henry, Sam Adams,
John Hancock
1. Circulate through the room and greet delegates from other states.
2. Act out any personal characteristics of your person.
3. To be authentic, remember. . . . . .
• Delegates greeted each other with FORMAL phrases:
“It is my pleasure to be in your company,
Doctor Franklin”
“I am heartily glad to see you, Mr. Madison”
I will maintain ORDER at this convention.
• Before speaking, RAISE YOUR HAND and I will acknowledge you. You must say “Mr. Washington.”
• The GAVEL means quiet down.
I know some of you are afraid that you cannot speak your mind freely here. You are afraid of what might happen when you return home (attack, prison, etc.). Therefore, we will take an oath of secrecy.
1. “I promise not to divulge to the public what is discussed at this convention.” (All written notes MUST stay in here!!)
2. Lock the door. Shut the windows. I have posted a GUARD at the door.
GW: As you know, were came here to fix
the old government under the Articles of
Confederation. But James Madison has
something to say about that.
(Read letter) (rip Art.)
GW: Thank you Delegate Madison. It
appears we are no longer going to fix the
old government. Rather, we are making a
new government. Mr. Madison has already
written a plan for this. Mr. Madison, does
your plan look like this….
- Legislative- Executive- Judicial
Three branches
GW: To do this, we will need a written
plan for this government, a constitution.
This will be our focus.
We will disagree on issues, but we all agree
on the type of government we desire....
GW: We also share this belief: We all
believe in the ideals of the Declaration of
Independence:
- life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness
- a government gets its right to rule from the “consent of the governed”
(lights off)
We will meet back here in two days.
And we will debate some issues including:
- the Legislative Branch (Congress)
- Slavery (Do slaves count as population?)
- Should we have one President, or 3?
Remember your oath to secrecy. Have a
pleasant evening. I bid you Godspeed. (And please… Stay away from the pubs.)
When the lights come on, the date will be:
January 23, 2014
Dismiss by state. “New York, Godspeed.”
1. Describe the backgrounds of the delegates to the Constitutional Convention and the historical context
2. Debate and compromise on key issues that emerged at the convention
Fill out Part Two on your
Delegate Sheet – Issue #1 only.
When the lights go off, the date will be
July 16, 1787(lights, wind, sound effects…)
The date is July 16, 1787
Remember, we took an oath of secrecy yesterday!!
(Note)
PHASE TWO
How should states be represented
in the new government (in
Congress… the Legislature)?
CONGRESS
In other words. . .
Should Congress (Legislature)
represent: ---- the STATES
or ---- the PEOPLE ???
1. The number of representatives a state sends to Congress will depend on the state’s POPULATION.
2. Each state will have EQUAL REPRESENTATION.
3. The number of representatives will depend on the WEALTH of the citizens of the state.
1. READ your delegate’s view on Issue #1.
2. Circulate the room. Find other delegates who share your view. Agree to support each other during the debate (APPLAUSE & CHEERS) and to BOO the other side.
3. Persuade delegates who disagree with you to take your side.
Have delegates form groups and stand and
gather on a certain sides of the room.
Equal Rep = Left, Population = Right, Other
in middle, back
- Debate. Support your side w/ cheers.
- Quick vote. Then, other side offers a new proposal.
In both houses, the # of representatives for each state depends on the state’s POPULATION
Does this favor the PEOPLE or the STATES?
Every state has an EQUAL number of representatives
Does this favor the PEOPLE or the STATES?
If we don’t compromise, there will be no
Constitution. What would be a good
COMPROMISE?
Roger Sherman has come
up with a “great”
compromise…
Is there SOMETHING in this
compromise that works
for you? Vote.
The legislature would have two houses
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES - based on population
= 53 representatives(38,800,000 people)
= 1 representative(493,000 people)
SENATE – number of representatives for each state are equal
= 2 senators
= 2 senators
CONGRESS
SENATE (100)EVERY STATE HAS EQUAL
NUMBER
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
(435) BASED ON POPULATION SO NOT
EQUAL FOR EVERY STATE
Now read Issue #2 on your card and fill out that part of your Delegate Sheet.
Should slaves be counted as part
of a state’s population?
Are slaves property or people?
CONGRESS
SENATE (100)EVERY STATE HAS EQUAL
NUMBER
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
(435) BASED ON POPULATION SO NOT
EQUAL FOR EVERY STATE
1. Count slaves as PROPERTY to be taxed like other property.
2. Count slaves as PEOPLE to determine representation in Congress..
3. Both! Count slaves as property for taxes and as people for representation.
4. Neither! Do not count slaves as property nor as people.
Have delegates form groups and stand and
gather on a certain sides of the room.
Left = population, Right = property for taxes
Back = others
- Debate. Support your side w/ cheers.
- Quick vote. Then, other side offers a new proposal.
If we don’t compromise, there will be no
Constitution. Alexander Hamilton has
come up with a pretty good compromise
about counting slaves.
Is there SOMETHING in this
compromise that works
for you? Vote.
should slaves be counted as population for taxes and/or to determine representatives in the legislature
Southern states want slaves to be counted to determine representatives but NOT for taxes
X
Northern states want slaves to NOT be counted to determine representatives but to be counted for taxes
X
Compromise made was count slaves as 3/5 of a person
This is used for taxes and to set up the number of reps in Congress
(lights off)
Tomorrow, we should have a final draft of
the Constitution completed by the
committee. We shall sign our names to the
Constitution and move this republic forward.
Remember your oath to secrecy. Have a
pleasant evening. I bid you Godspeed. (And please… Stay away from the pubs.)
When the lights come on, the date will be:
January 28, 2014
Dismiss by state. “New York, Godspeed.”
Read 8.3 and do 20 Cornell Notes (to prepare for
Federalists PPT)
Study for Ch 8 unit test, next Mon.
Interactive Painting!!
• http://teachingamericanhistory.org/convention/christy/
1. simulate the Constitutional Convention by taking on the persona of a delegate
2. understand why delegates signed or did not sign the Constitution
Read the bottom of your bio card to see if your delegate signed the Constitution. Fill out Part 3 of your Delegate WS.
When the lights go off, the date will be
September 17, 1787….. (lights, wind, sound effects…)
PHASE THREE
* September 17, 1787 *
The date is September 17, 1787. The final
draft of the Constitution has been written,
and it is time for the delegates to sign it.
Reread the bottom of your bio card to see if
your delegate signed the Constitution.
If not, be prepared to share your reason IN
YOUR OWN WORDS. Say “I” not “He”.
But….
1. Oliver Ellsworth (CT) leaves the
convention before Sept. 17, but he supports it. (Leave then sit in side chair.) John Lansing Jr (NY) leaves before signing, in protest.
2. Luther Martin (MD), George Mason, Edmund Randolph (VA) & Elbridge Gerry (MA): read yours carefully.
3. If any delegate does not sign, stand up, tell us why (be spirited!), and stand on the side with your arms folded.
GW says a few words…
If I could change one thing about this
Constitution for you before you sign it,what would it be? (Mason, Bill of Rights)
Dr. Benjamin Franklin would like to say a
few words about signing.
* September 17, 1787 *
Scene at the Signing of the Constitution of the United StatesBy Howard Chandler Christy (1940)
of the Signing of the Constitution, September 17, 1787
It is official. Let it be noted
that on this date,
September 17, 1787, the “Constitution
of the United States” has been adopted.
The official name of our nation is the
“United States of America”.
Let it be said, let it be done.
It is a miracle, indeed.
We cannot yet start to create our new
government. This Constitution needs to be
ratified (approved) by 9 out of 13 states. Go
home to your home states and encourage
your fellow citizens to vote YES to the
Constitution.
“The business being thus closed,
the Members adjourned to the City
Tavern, dined together and took a
cordial leave of each other.”
Benjamin Franklin confessed
afterwards that he spent
much time during the
Convention looking at
the sun carved on
the back of Washington’s
chair.
He wondered if the sun was about to rise or
set. “But now, I have the happiness to
know that it is a rising and not a setting
sun.”
• What parts did you enjoy the most?• What parts did you enjoy the least?• In what ways was your experience different
from that of the actual delegates?• In what ways was your experience similar to
that of the actual delegates?
