The Constitution

Framing the Government

Preview- Read “Two Opposing Plans,” pages 55 and 56

• As you read, compare the Virginia Plan to the New Jersey Plan by completing a Venn diagram like the one on the board

Compromise • Prefix “com” means with ; together; jointly

• The root word “promise” means to agree to something

• The United States government was created using compromise in order to resolve disagreements among the different sections of the country.

Virginia Plan

1. Bicameral legislature

2. Both houses’ representation based on population

3. Large states would have more votes than small states

New Jersey Plan

1. Unicameral legislature

2. Each state would get one vote

Both

1. Called for three branches of government

Federalists 1. Federalism a government, divided between the

federal, or national government and the states

2. Argued that the United States would not survive without a strong national government

3. Essays, The Federalist, defended the Constitution

4. Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay

Anti - Federalists 1. Felt it gave too much power to the national

government

2. Took too much power from the states

3. Object to the absence of a bill of rights

4. failed to provide protection for certain individual liberties, no freedoms of speech and religion

Study the facsimile Constitution

Which ways is it different from federal documents we have today?

Handwritten, different language, and different spelling

Point out features that are the same as today.

Singed on the bottom and divided into sections

What rights does the Constitution provide to American citizens?

What powers does each branch of the government have?

Read the preamble of the Constitution.

• What does it tell the reader about America’s form of government?

• What message is conveyed by these words.

• The Articles of the Constitution describe the powers of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches.

• Article one, describing the legislative branch powers, is much longer than the other sections.

• What does this say about the role of signers felt Congress should play in government?

• Article five of the Constitution provides the right of the Congress and states to amend the Constitution.

• What effect has this provision had on the Constitution throughout time?

• You will take on the roles of Federalists who are trying to convince Anti-Federalists that this Constitution will still preserve rights of individuals.

• Use the Constitution to include specific parts of the text to support their views. Write letters explaining why they should support the New Constitution

• Read the Background Information carefully

• Complete “The Framework of the Government”