Constitutional Convention

Constitutional Convention

​The Constitutional Convention

​In 1787, 55 delegates from 12 of the 13 states (every state except Rhode Island) attended the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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They met to amend (make changes to) the Articles of Confederation. However, in order to amend the Articles of Confederation all 13 states would have to agree. Only 12 states showed up so this was impossible. They eventually decided to scrap the Articles of Confederation and make a new constitution 

Multiple Choice

Which of the following was the original purpose of the Constitutional Convention?

• To create a new constitution

• To revise the Articles of Confederation

• To form a national army 

• To strengthen the power of the states

Multiple Choice

Why did they have to change their goals to making a new constitution instead of revising the Articles of Confederation?

• They didn't have enough states at the convention to get the 100% approval needed to amend the Articles of Confederation

• No one at the Convention liked the Articles of Confederation

• They didn't have enough time to revise the Articles of Confederation

​Vocabulary

The men who wrote the Constitution are referred to by  several different names. These include:

Delegates - A representative sent to a conference. 

Framers - A person who shapes a concept or plan. 

Founding Fathers - The men who created the U.S. government 

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is NOT a name that describes  the men who attended the Constitutional Convention?

• Delegates

• Framers of the Constitution

• Founding Fathers

• Parliament

Multiple Choice

Which of the following best describes the Constitutional Convention?

• A secretive meeting that created a new government for the United States

• A public meeting that all U.S. citizens were invited to attend to create a new government

• A meeting between Great Britain and the U.S. to discuss the terms of the end of the Revolution

​Framers of the Constitution

• ​All delegates at the Constitutional Convention were white men, most were very wealthy and well-educated and more than half were lawyers and had previous government experience.

• More than half of the delegates were slave owners.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following best describes the framers of the Constitution?

• Average Americans

• Wealthy, well educated and powerful

• Loyalists

• Poor and uneducated 

​Framers of the Constitution

• The delegates included some well-known patriots such as George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, and Alexander Hamilton. Thomas Jefferson and John Adams did not attend because they were in other countries handling important business for the U.S. 

• However, some famous patriots intentionally did not come such as Patrick Henry. There were many Americans who did not want the Articles of Confederation to be changed.

Multiple Choice

All Americans supported the idea of replacing the Articles of Confederation with a new form of government

• True

• False

President of the Convention

• George Washington was chosen to be the president of the convention because he was respected by many and viewed as a unifying person.

Father of the Constitution

• James Madison took many notes at the convention, and would eventually go on to write most of the Constitution. This is why he is called “The Father of the Constitution” today. 

Multiple Choice

George Washington was the president of the Constitutional Convention

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

John Adams was known as the "Father of the Constitution" because of the large role he played in writing the Constitution

• True

• False

​Compromise at the Constitutional Convention

• ​The delegates at the Constitutional Convention had many different ideas on how the new government should be set up. The debates lasted for 3 months!

• ​The only way for them to be able to create a Constitution that could be passed by a majority of states was to work together and make compromises

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

​Turn & Talk

​What is an example of a compromise that you have made with someone or that you have seen happen?

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​Remember in order for it to be a true compromise, both sides must get some of what they want (both sides meet in the middle)