Forging a New Nation

Forging a New Nation

1. Compare this part of the first draft with the equivalent sections in the final copy printed on page 146 of your textbook. Discuss the major changes that were made in the document in only about five weeks time.

1. Compare this part of the first draft with the equivalent sections in the final copy printed on page 146 of your textbook. Discuss the major changes that were made in the document in only about five weeks time.

Major Differences: -The Preamble in the final copy is

much more detailed and concrete;- The concept of “the United States

of America” is assumed rather than stated;

- The articles in the final copy are much longer, more explicit, and more detailed than in the first draft.

What change in the government was emphasized when “We the people of the United States” replaced the listing of the individual states in the Preamble?

Why do you think this wording was so important at the time?

What change in the government was emphasized when “We the people of the United States” replaced the listing of the individual states in the Preamble?

Why do you think this wording was so important at the time?

The union of the country and the power of the federal government are emphasized over the existence of the individual states and their governments. It was important to declare this union in the Constitution to ensure that the federal government would always remain stronger than the state governments.

The United States were expanding quickly. Let’s look at the priorities different states had for their government.

The United States were expanding quickly. Let’s look at the priorities different states had for their government.

Now compare the wishes of your state to those of another group. What do you think is a good compromise?

Hmm, what is going to happen to all of that land in the West?! Hmm, what is going to happen to all of that land in the West?!

Under the Land Ordinance of 1784 and 1785. When a territory had as many people as the smallest state in the country, it could apply for statehood. While many states would grow out of territories there was one issue… slavery

Under the Land Ordinance of 1784 and 1785. When a territory had as many people as the smallest state in the country, it could apply for statehood. While many states would grow out of territories there was one issue… slavery

KEY CONFLICTS AT THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION

KEY CONFLICTS AT THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION

CENTRAL GOV’T vs. STRONG STATES CENTRAL GOV’T vs. STRONG STATES

LARGE STATES vs. SMALL STATESLARGE STATES vs. SMALL STATES

NORTH vs. SOUTH NORTH vs. SOUTH

• Authority derives from the people• In a new plan of government, the central government should be stronger than the states.

• Authority derives from the people• In a new plan of government, the central government should be stronger than the states.

• Authority derives from the people• In a new plan of government, the state governments should be stronger than the central.

• Authority derives from the people• In a new plan of government, the state governments should be stronger than the central.

• Congress should be composed of two houses.•Number of delegates to both houses of Congress should be assigned according to population.

• Congress should be composed of two houses.•Number of delegates to both houses of Congress should be assigned according to population.

• Congress of one house should be preserved.•Each state should have one vote.

• Congress of one house should be preserved.•Each state should have one vote.

• Slaves should not be counted when deciding the number of congressional delegates. • Slaves should be counted when levying taxes.

• Slaves should not be counted when deciding the number of congressional delegates. • Slaves should be counted when levying taxes.

• Slaves should be counted when determining .congressional representation. •Slaves should not be counted when levying taxes.

• Slaves should be counted when determining .congressional representation. •Slaves should not be counted when levying taxes.

What is a “convention”? __________________________

Constitutional Convention(1787)Constitutional Convention(1787)

direct democracy representative democracy

Problem #1: What form of Democracy?Problem #1: What form of Democracy?

Virginia Plan New Jersey Plan (proposed by James Madison) (proposed by William Paterson)

Bi-Cameral (TWO HOUSE) Legislature

Number of representatives based on the population of the state

Uni-Cameral (SINGLE HOUSE) Legislature

Number of representatives equal

for each state

Two Plans for Government ProposedTwo Plans for Government Proposed

Solution: The Great Compromise

Equal representation:Two representatives for each state

(New Jersey’s Plan)

Senators

Representation based onpopulation of the state

(Virginia’s Plan)

Representatives

Solution: The Great CompromiseSolution: The Great Compromise

Problem # 2: SlaveryProblem # 2: Slavery

Different Viewpoints on Slavery1) Southern states (like VIRGINIA ) wanted the enslaved population to count toward their total population because it would give them a _______ population and get them _________________ in Congress. More representatives meant more _____________ !!!!

2) However, _____________ states (like Massachusetts) DID NOT want the enslaved population to count toward population because then the ____________states would get more ________________ than the people in the northern states. Fewer representatives meant __________ power!!!

Different Viewpoints on SlaveryDifferent Viewpoints on Slavery

1) Those southern states (like VIRGINIA ) wanted the enslaved population to count toward their total population because it would give them a _larger___ population and get them _more representatives_ in Congress. More representatives meant more __power___________!!

2) However, __northern____ states (like Massachusetts) DID NOT want the enslaved population to count toward population because then the southern___ states would get more _____representatives____ than the people in the northern states. Fewer representatives meant __less_____ power!!

Different Viewpoints on SlaveryDifferent Viewpoints on Slavery

The northern states and southern states agreed that they would count ___3/5__ of the enslaved population toward the total population.

1 1 1 1 1 50,000 slavescount as 30,000

HOWEVER, enslaved people were NOT allowed to VOTE nor did they have any say whatsoever in the United States government.

Solution: 3/5 CompromiseSolution: 3/5 Compromise

Branches of Government