The Constitutional Convention
Essential Question: How was compromise essential to creating the United States Constitution?
The Constitutional Convention of 1787 was held at Independence Hall in Philadelphia. 55 men from throughout the colonies came together for the purpose of strengthening the Articles of Confederation. George Washington was chosen as president of the convention. Rhode Island did not send delegates to the convention, so the Articles of Confederation could not be amended (changed). Remember, all 13 states had to agree in order to amend the Articles of Confederation. Because of this, the Articles needed to be abandoned and a new constitution needed to be created.
From the start of the convention, controversy arose concerning voting on legislation (laws). Larger states such as Pennsylvania wanted their votes to count more than smaller states because they represented larger populations. Smaller states such as New Jersey feared that their ideas and opinions would be ignored.
The Great Compromise
A few days in to the convention, Virginia governor Edmund Randolph presented the Virginia Plan, a compilation of ideas drafted by future president James Madison (referred to as the "Father of the Constitution").
The Virginia Plan
It proposed 3 branches of government
The Legislative Branch would have 2 Houses (bicameral)
This plan clearly favored the larger states. The smaller states began to voice their opposition. William Paterson, from New Jersey, warned that his state would never go along with the plan. He then proposed another idea known as the New Jersey Plan.
The New Jersey Plan
It proposed 3 branches of government
The Legislative Branch would have 1 Houses (unicameral)
After much debate, Roger Sherman of Connecticut proposed a compromise regarding the issue of representation. His ideas was a blend of the two plans. This became known as the Great Compromise.
The Connecticut Plan
It proposed 3 branches of government
The Legislative Branch would have 2 Houses (bicameral)
1. House of Representatives
Upon discussing the Connecticut Plan, the delegates from the large states agreed to the compromise to prevent the delegates from the smaller states from leaving the convention.
Essential Question: How was compromise essential to creating the United States Constitution?
The Constitutional Convention of 1787 was held at Independence Hall in Philadelphia. 55 men from throughout the colonies came together for the purpose of strengthening the Articles of Confederation. George Washington was chosen as president of the convention. Rhode Island did not send delegates to the convention, so the Articles of Confederation could not be amended (changed). Remember, all 13 states had to agree in order to amend the Articles of Confederation. Because of this, the Articles needed to be abandoned and a new constitution needed to be created.
From the start of the convention, controversy arose concerning voting on legislation (laws). Larger states such as Pennsylvania wanted their votes to count more than smaller states because they represented larger populations. Smaller states such as New Jersey feared that their ideas and opinions would be ignored.
The Great Compromise
A few days in to the convention, Virginia governor Edmund Randolph presented the Virginia Plan, a compilation of ideas drafted by future president James Madison (referred to as the "Father of the Constitution").
The Virginia Plan
It proposed 3 branches of government
- Legislative: Legislators to create laws
- Executive: President to enforce the laws
- Judicial: Judges to decide on laws
The Legislative Branch would have 2 Houses (bicameral)
- Both houses would have representation based on population of the states (more people=more reps/votes)
This plan clearly favored the larger states. The smaller states began to voice their opposition. William Paterson, from New Jersey, warned that his state would never go along with the plan. He then proposed another idea known as the New Jersey Plan.
The New Jersey Plan
It proposed 3 branches of government
- Legislative: Legislators to create laws
- Executive: President to enforce the laws
- Judicial: Judges to decide on laws
The Legislative Branch would have 1 Houses (unicameral)
- each state would be given 1 representative to vote when making federal laws.
After much debate, Roger Sherman of Connecticut proposed a compromise regarding the issue of representation. His ideas was a blend of the two plans. This became known as the Great Compromise.
The Connecticut Plan
It proposed 3 branches of government
- Legislative: Legislators to create laws
- Executive: President to enforce the laws
- Judicial: Judges to decide on laws
The Legislative Branch would have 2 Houses (bicameral)
1. House of Representatives
- representation based on population of the states (more people=more reps/votes)
- each state would be given 2 representatives to vote when making federal laws.
Upon discussing the Connecticut Plan, the delegates from the large states agreed to the compromise to prevent the delegates from the smaller states from leaving the convention.
The Three-Fifths Compromise
A second disagreement concerned the counting of slaves. Southern states wanted slaves to be counted as a part of their population for representation in Congress. Northern states, with far fewer slaves, opposed this idea.
The Northern and Southern States compromised by agreeing to count every 5 slaves as 3 free persons for both representation and taxation.
As a result of the agreements and compromises reached at the Constitutional Convention, the delegates created a new system of government, but not before more disagreement and debate.
Note Questions:
1. What was the Constitutional Convention and what was its purpose?
2. Create a flow chart showing the Virginia Plan, the New Jersey Plan, and the Connecticut Plan. Title you chart "The Great Compromise".
3. Explain the Three-fifths Compromise. What is your reaction to this idea?
Summary:
Using details from your notes, explain how compromises were an important part of creating our plan for government.
A second disagreement concerned the counting of slaves. Southern states wanted slaves to be counted as a part of their population for representation in Congress. Northern states, with far fewer slaves, opposed this idea.
The Northern and Southern States compromised by agreeing to count every 5 slaves as 3 free persons for both representation and taxation.
As a result of the agreements and compromises reached at the Constitutional Convention, the delegates created a new system of government, but not before more disagreement and debate.
Note Questions:
1. What was the Constitutional Convention and what was its purpose?
2. Create a flow chart showing the Virginia Plan, the New Jersey Plan, and the Connecticut Plan. Title you chart "The Great Compromise".
3. Explain the Three-fifths Compromise. What is your reaction to this idea?
Summary:
Using details from your notes, explain how compromises were an important part of creating our plan for government.
Electing the President & Vice-President prior to 1804
The electoral process before the 12th Amendment
by JAMES R WHITSON < [email protected] >
posted May 2000
....
As laid out originally in the Constitution, the election process was meant to be a contest of individuals not political parties. With an individual like George Washington, whose popularity cut across all groups, this system worked well enough. But during the two elections that followed, the rise of political factions produced some unexpected outcomes. As a result, the 12th Amendment, which changed the way the vice president is elected, was ratified in 1804.Today when an elector casts his ballot he lists one person as his choice for president and another as his choice for vice president. Then two separate lists are drawn up; one with all the names and votes cast for president, and another with all the names and votes cast for vice president. The person with a majority of votes on the presidential list is named president and the person with a majority of votes on the vice presidential list is named vice president. If no one receives a majority of the votes for president, then the House of Representatives chooses from the top three candidates. If no one receives a majority of the votes for vice president, then the Senate chooses from the top two candidates.
Before 1804, however, when an elector cast his ballot he listed his top two choices for president. The choices weren't ranked as "first choice" or "second choice" and no mention of vice president was made on the ballot. One list was then drawn up that included both names from every elector's ballot. The person with the majority of votes from the total numbers of electors (not the majority of the total number of electoral votes) was named president. The person with the next highest number of votes was named vice president. If two people had a majority and the same number of votes, then the House of Representatives would choose between them which would be president; the other would be vice president. If no one received a majority then the House would choose the president from the top five candidates. From the remaining four, the one with the most electoral votes would be vice president. If two or more people were tied for second on the list the Senate would choose among them the vice president.
by JAMES R WHITSON < [email protected] >
posted May 2000
....
As laid out originally in the Constitution, the election process was meant to be a contest of individuals not political parties. With an individual like George Washington, whose popularity cut across all groups, this system worked well enough. But during the two elections that followed, the rise of political factions produced some unexpected outcomes. As a result, the 12th Amendment, which changed the way the vice president is elected, was ratified in 1804.Today when an elector casts his ballot he lists one person as his choice for president and another as his choice for vice president. Then two separate lists are drawn up; one with all the names and votes cast for president, and another with all the names and votes cast for vice president. The person with a majority of votes on the presidential list is named president and the person with a majority of votes on the vice presidential list is named vice president. If no one receives a majority of the votes for president, then the House of Representatives chooses from the top three candidates. If no one receives a majority of the votes for vice president, then the Senate chooses from the top two candidates.
Before 1804, however, when an elector cast his ballot he listed his top two choices for president. The choices weren't ranked as "first choice" or "second choice" and no mention of vice president was made on the ballot. One list was then drawn up that included both names from every elector's ballot. The person with the majority of votes from the total numbers of electors (not the majority of the total number of electoral votes) was named president. The person with the next highest number of votes was named vice president. If two people had a majority and the same number of votes, then the House of Representatives would choose between them which would be president; the other would be vice president. If no one received a majority then the House would choose the president from the top five candidates. From the remaining four, the one with the most electoral votes would be vice president. If two or more people were tied for second on the list the Senate would choose among them the vice president.