Opening the Convention and the Great Compromise

The Constitutional Convention - Questions and Compromises

Use TCI Lesson 8 to complete the vocabulary section of your notes

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Vocabulary

• ​55 delegates from 12 states (Rhode Island feared a strong national government and did not send anyone) started the convention on May 25, 1787.

• George Washington was chosen to serve as the President of the Convention.

​Opening the Convention

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• Because the delegates wanted to speak their minds freely they agreed to keep what was said in the meeting room secret until the convention was done.

​Opening the Convention

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• The delegates were strong believers in the ideas of the Declaration of Independence.

• They believed that the governments powers came from the people.

• They believed the job of government was to protect the rights of the people.​

​Opening the Convention

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• ​Many key questions needed to be answered such as:

  • Does the national governments power come from the states or the people?

  • Who could vote?​

  • How should states be represented?

  • How do we elect a chief executive?

  • What to do about slavery?

​Opening the Convention

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Open Ended

Who was the president of the Constitutional Convention?

Multiple Choice

The rule of secrecy was followed so that

• the citizens could follow the convention

• the newspapers could report the events accurately

• the delegates could feel free to speak their mind

Multiple Select

The delegates believed that (select two)

• the purpose of government is to protect the rights of the people

• England's government was better that they had realized

• states needed more power to unite the country

• a republic would be the best way to protect people's rights

• The delegates decided to throw out the Articles of Confederation and form a new government.

• Under the Articles the ​governments power to rule had come from the states. James Madison proposed the Virginia Plan, giving this power to the people.

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Should the government's power to rule come from the states or the people?

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Watch the videos on the next two slides to get an overview of the two plans proposed at the Convention.

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Two Plans

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Multiple Choice

Which plan for a new government was favored by small states?

• Virginia Plan

• New Jersey Plan

• Articles of Confederation

Multiple Choice

The Virginia Plan

• Which plan was favored by large states?

• Which plan was favored by small states?

• Which plan was written by William Patterson of New Jersey?

Match

Match the following

• Virginia Plan

• Articles of Confederation

• New Jersey Plan

Power to rule came from the people

Power to rule came from the states

Similar to Articles of Confederation but gave Congress more power

• Power to rule came from the people

• Power to rule came from the states

• Similar to Articles of Confederation but gave Congress more power

• ​Proposed by Roger Sherman, a delegate from Connecticut.

• Solved the question of how states should be represented in the new government.

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The Great Compromise

The Great Compromise

Watch the video on the next slide to complete the Great Compromise section of your notes.

Open Ended

Which delegate gets the credit for the Great Compromise?

Multiple Choice

What Compromise solved the question of how states should be represented in the new government?

• The Electoral College

• The Great Compromise

• The Three-Fifths (3/5) Compromise

Match

Match the following

• Representatives for each state are determined by population

• Each state gets two representatives

• Solved the question "How should states be represented in the new government?".

House of Representatives

Senate

The Great Compromise

• House of Representatives

• Senate

• The Great Compromise