Forging a New Nation 1 Compare this

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. 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? 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. 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? ! 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 CENTRAL GOV’T vs. STRONG 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. LARGE STATES vs. SMALL STATES • 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. NORTH vs. SOUTH • 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.

Constitutional Convention(1787) What is a “convention”? _____________

Problem #1: What form of Democracy? direct democracy representative democracy

Two Plans for Government Proposed Virginia Plan (proposed by James Madison) New Jersey Plan (proposed by William Paterson) Bi-Cameral (TWO HOUSE) Legislature Uni-Cameral (SINGLE HOUSE) Legislature Number of representatives based on the population of the state Number of representatives equal for each state

Solution: The Great. Compromise Solution: The Great Compromise Equal representation: Two representatives for each state (New Jersey’s Plan) Representation based on population of the state (Virginia’s Plan) Senators Representatives

Problem # 2: Slavery

Different Viewpoints on Slavery 1) 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 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!!

Solution: 3/5 Compromise The northern states and southern states agreed that they would count ___3/5__ of the enslaved population toward the total population. 1 1 1 50, 000 slaves count as 30, 000 HOWEVER, enslaved people were NOT allowed to VOTE nor did they have any say whatsoever in the United States government.

Branches of Government