Constitutional Convention Great Compromise

Constitutional Convention

Credit for slides Ch.R. Edited Mrs. F.

Independence Hall, Chestnut Street facade

NPS photo

Open Ended

Virginia Plan

Drafted by:

Open Ended

Number of lawmakers would depend on:

Open Ended

New Jersey Plan

Drafted by:

A compromise is when two different sides disagree but come to a middle ground where they can both get something they want.​

Open Ended

The Great Compromise

The debate of representation in Congress became heated.

Large states wanted representation to be...

Small states wanted representation to be…

What countries were waiting for the new United States to fall apart so they could pick up the pieces?

Three-Fifths Compromise

• Northern States wanted enslaved people to count for taxation NOT representation.

• Southern States wanted enslaved people to count for representation NOT taxation.

• In the end, the delegates agreed to the Three-Fifths Compromise. Slavery would not be abolished, and every five slaves would count as three people toward a state’s population for taxing and representation purposes.

The Constitutional
Convention Ends

The end of the summer had come, but

now this new plan (the Constitution)

has to be approved by the states

**Ratification

▶ The writers of the Constitution agreed that 9 of the 13

states would have to ratify (formally approve) the
document for it to go into effect

▶ Who would approve it?

▶ Some delegate said state legislatures
▶ Others argues the people should be the ones to

approve the document

▶ Founding Fathers agreed the the people were the

“fountain of all power” and would ratify it

“I confess that I do not entirely approve of this

Constitution,“ Franklin began. Then he pointed out that
no convention could produce a perfect plan. “It
therefore astonishes me,” Franklin continued, “to find
this system approaching so near to perfection . . . and I
think it will astonish our enemies.” Franklin added that
he approved the final plan “because I expect no
better, and because I am not sure that it is not the
best.” He urged every member of the convention to
“put his name to this instrument.”

Multiple Choice

Which group wanted to ratify the Constitution?

• Federalists

• Anti Federalists

Multiple Choice

Which group was against ratification?

• Federalists

• Anti Federalists