History-Social Science Content Standards

8.2 Students analyze the political principles underlying the U.S. Constitution and compare the enumerated and implied powers of the federal government.

8.2.3 Evaluate the major debates that occurred during the development of the Constitution and their ultimate resolutions in such areas as shared power

among institutions, divided state-federal power, slavery, the rights of individuals and states (later addressed by addition of the Bill of Rights), and the

status of American Indian nations under the commerce clause.

English Language Arts: 7th & 8th

7 W 1.3 Use strategies of notetaking, outlining, and summarizing to impose structure on composition drafts.

8 R 1.3 Use word meanings within the appropriate context and show ability to verify those meanings by definition, restatement, example, comparison, or contrast.

III. Framing the Constitution

With the ideas of the Magna Carta, With the ideas of the Magna Carta, English Bill of Rights, and Mayflower English Bill of Rights, and Mayflower

Compact as their guide, they were ready Compact as their guide, they were ready to write a new constitution.to write a new constitution.

But It wasn’t easy…

A. The Constitutional A. The Constitutional ConventionConvention

1. It was called to make changes to the Articles of Confederation.

2. Philadelphia, PA at Independence Hall in May of 1787.

3. 55 men, all white, attended including planters, lawyers, doctors, generals, governors, and a college president.

4. Three delegates under 30 and one was over 80.

5. They decided the Articles needed to be abandoned.

FFraraming NOT Fming NOT Fararmingming

George George Washington, who Washington, who

led America to led America to victory in the victory in the Revolution, Revolution,

presided over the presided over the convention, as convention, as

president.president.

Alexander Hamilton, Alexander Hamilton, though not content though not content with the final form with the final form

of the Constitution, of the Constitution, wrote 51 of the 85 wrote 51 of the 85

essays known as the essays known as the Federalist Papers. Federalist Papers. He defended the He defended the Constitution and Constitution and

called for it’s called for it’s ratification. ratification.

Benjamin Benjamin Franklin was Franklin was possibly the possibly the

most well known most well known American in the American in the

world.world.

James Wilson James Wilson read all of 80 read all of 80

year-old year-old Franklin’s Franklin’s

speeches. Was speeches. Was one of the most one of the most gifted political gifted political minds of his minds of his

time. Proposed time. Proposed the 3/5ths the 3/5ths

Compromise.Compromise.

James Madison James Madison came to the came to the

convention with the convention with the basic plan that was basic plan that was

eventually adopted. eventually adopted. He had been He had been

studying political studying political history, classical history, classical

republicanism, and republicanism, and modern political modern political

theory since the fall theory since the fall of 1786. of 1786.

He is often called He is often called “The Father of the “The Father of the

Constitution”.Constitution”.

Roger Sherman Roger Sherman suggested The suggested The

Great Compromise Great Compromise which possibly which possibly

saved the young saved the young United States. United States.

Gouverneur Gouverneur Morris ended up Morris ended up writing the final writing the final

draft of the draft of the Constitution. Constitution.

Credited as the Credited as the author of the author of the

preamble: “We preamble: “We the people…” and the people…” and

has been has been nicknamed the nicknamed the “Penman of the “Penman of the Constitution.”Constitution.”

Adams is in England & Adams is in England & Jefferson in France. Jefferson in France.

Neither is able to attend Neither is able to attend the Convention.the Convention.

B. B. OrganizationOrganization1.1. Twelve states sent Twelve states sent

delegatesdelegates

2.2. Each state had one Each state had one vote on all decisionsvote on all decisions

3.3. Decisions would be Decisions would be made by a majority made by a majority votevote

4.4. George Washington George Washington was unanimously was unanimously chosen to preside chosen to preside over the meetingsover the meetings

Debate Debate #1#1

The Legislative BranchThe Legislative Branch

C. The Virginia PlanC. The Virginia Plan

1.1. A strong national governmentA strong national government

2.2. Three branches: executive, legislative, and Three branches: executive, legislative, and judicialjudicial

3.3. A two-house legislatureA two-house legislature

Based onBased onpopulationpopulation

Based onBased onpopulationpopulation

4.4. In both houses the number of representatives In both houses the number of representatives would be proportional.would be proportional.

5.5. This would give highly populated states (like This would give highly populated states (like Virginia) a larger say in national decisions and Virginia) a larger say in national decisions and passing laws.passing laws.

Under the Virginia PlanUnder the Virginia Plan

D. The New Jersey PlanD. The New Jersey Plan

1.1. A one-house legislatureA one-house legislature

2.2. Each state would get one voteEach state would get one vote

3.3. This would give all states an equal say in This would give all states an equal say in national decisions and passing lawsnational decisions and passing laws

Each state gets one voteEach state gets one vote

Under the New Jersey PlanUnder the New Jersey Plan

E. The Great CompromiseE. The Great Compromise1.1. Compromise -Compromise - an agreement between two or more an agreement between two or more

sides in which each side gives up some of what it sides in which each side gives up some of what it wants. wants.

Proposed by Roger ShermanProposed by Roger Sherman

2.2. A bicameral (two-house) A bicameral (two-house) legislaturelegislature

a.a. House of Representatives House of Representatives – number of members – number of members from each state would be from each state would be proportional. proportional. Thank Thank Virginia!Virginia!

b.b. Senate – each state would Senate – each state would have two members. have two members. Thank Thank New Jersey!New Jersey!

One problem One problem down… but this down… but this

presents another presents another problem… problem…

Debate Debate #2#2Legislative Legislative

RepresentationRepresentation

F. The 3/5ths F. The 3/5ths CompromiseCompromise

1.1. If seats in the House of If seats in the House of Representatives are Representatives are based on population, based on population, do slaves count as do slaves count as population?population?

2.2. Southern slaveholders, Southern slaveholders, who wanted more who wanted more power in government, power in government, thought slaves should thought slaves should be counted.be counted.

F. The 3/5ths F. The 3/5ths CompromiseCompromise

3.3. Northerners thought Northerners thought that “property” should that “property” should not count toward not count toward population.population.

4.4. They eventually They eventually resolved that each resolved that each slave should be slave should be counted as 3/5ths of a counted as 3/5ths of a person.person.

October 1787, Madison wrote

to Jefferson that creating the

constitution was “a miracle”.

It would take another miracle to get it ratified.James Madison

G. Federalist PapersG. Federalist Papers

1. Written by Hamilton, Madison and Jay.

2. 85 essays which were reprinted in newspapers.

3. Supported ratification of the Constitution.

4. Reassured Americans the federal govt. wouldn’t overpower the states.

H. RatificationH. Ratification

1.1. Nine of thirteen states Nine of thirteen states needed to approve the needed to approve the constitution for it to go constitution for it to go into effect.into effect.

2.2. In 1788 the ninth state In 1788 the ninth state approved and the approved and the constitution became law.constitution became law.

3.3. Several states wouldn’t Several states wouldn’t ratify the Constitution until ratify the Constitution until they were promised the they were promised the addition of a bill protecting addition of a bill protecting individual rights.individual rights.

Ratification by StateRatification by State

I. Parts of the I. Parts of the ConstitutionConstitution

1.1. The The PreamblePreamble - Introduces the Constitution - Introduces the Constitution and states its purpose.and states its purpose.

2.2. The The ArticlesArticles – outline how our government is – outline how our government is organized.organized.

3.3. The The AmendmentsAmendments – changes made to the – changes made to the Constitution.Constitution.

a.a. Bill of Rights – first 10 amendments to the Bill of Rights – first 10 amendments to the Constitution.Constitution.

Part IIIPart III