The Constitutional Convention & the Great Compromise

Non academic question: Which candy best represents how you feel today?

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

What was the original goal of the Constitutional Convention?

• To pick the first president

• To change the capital city of the United States

• To fix the Articles of Confederation

• To write the Articles of Confederation

What were the conditions of the Constitutional Congress?

• Freezing cold because Ben Franklin insisted on controlling the air conditioning

• Hot, smelly, and itchy (from the mosquitoes!)

• Freezing cold because of the blizzard

• Super comfortable and luxurious

Eventually, the Constitutional Convention realized...

• giving Ben Franklin control of the air conditioning would mean they would all suffer from hypothermia and likely die!

• they could easily fix the Articles of Confederation and go home

• they couldn't fix the Articles and needed to start over

• the Articles of Confederation were fine and didn't need any changes

Under Virginia's plan for the new government...

• Ben Franklin gets unlimited control over the AC

• states with bigger populations would get more representation in the government

• each state would get equal representation in the government

• each state would get a turn to pick someone to be the president

• states with smaller populations would get more representation in the government

Under New Jersey's plan for the new government...

• Ben Franklin's AC privileges would be taken away until he realizes that not everyone likes it at 65 degrees. C'mon, Franklin!

• states with bigger populations would get more representation in the government

• states with smaller populations would get more representation in the government

• each state would get a turn to pick someone to be the president

• each state would get equal representation in the government

What is the definition of compromise?

• A situation where everyone gets the same thing.

• A situation where everyone gets what they want.

• A situation where each side gives up something to reach an agreement.

• A situation where nobody gets what they want.

Which states would like the Virginia Plan?

• States with small populations.

• States with lots of rivers.

• States with cash crops.

• States with large populations.

Which states would like the New Jersey Plan?

• States with small populations.

• States with lots of rivers.

• States with cash crops.

• States with large populations.

What did the Great Compromise accomplish?

• Ben Franklin would be allowed to control the AC on Tuesdays and Thursdays, but has to allow Thomas Jefferson to control the temperature on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. George Washington gets weekends.

• The new government would use ideas from the Virginia Plan.

• The new government would use ideas from both the VA and NJ plans.

• The new government would use ideas from the New Jersey Plan.