Bellwork: February 24th

Bellwork: 1/29Compromise: A settlement or agreement reached between two sides, where each side gives something to the other side.Journal: Describe a time when you had to compromise with someone. Who did you compromise with and what was the compromise?

The Great CompromiseEssential QuestionWhat were the results of the Great Compromise? Upcoming Change By the mid 1780s most political leaders agreed the Articles of Confederation need to be changedConfederation Congress invited each state to send delegates to a convention in PhiladelphiaWould discuss ways to improve Articles of Confed.Meeting was called The Constitutional Convention12 states sent 55 delegates to the conventionWould lead to the creation of the U.S. Constitution

Constitutional ConventionKey figures present:James MadisonBenjamin FranklinGeorge WashingtonKey figures absentJohn AdamsThomas Jefferson

How is our country being represented?The Great CompromiseSome members wanted to make small changes to the Articles of ConfederationSome wanted to rewrite the Articles completelyThere were also disagreements between: small and large states; based on how they would be represented in the new governmentabout slaveryEconomic issues such as tariffsHow strong to make the national government

Virginia PlanLarge-state planWritten by James MadisonWould give sovereignty-supreme power, to the national governmentDivided the govt into three branches:Executive, Judicial, LegislativeLegislature would be bicameral- two houses# of representatives of the legislature would depend on state populationThis would benefit large states, giving them more representativesNew Jersey PlanSmall-state planProposed keeping Congress structure the sameUnicameral-one house legislatureThis would give each state an equal # of votesThis would benefit smaller states, as large population had no effect on the # of votes

Convention could not agree after months of debateA compromise was reached

Great Compromise ContdThe Great Compromise-Broke the government into 3 Branches of GovernmentBicameral legislature:Every state, regardless of its size would have an equal vote in the upper house of the legislatureSenateEach state would have a # of representatives based on its population in the lower house of the legislatureHouse of Representatives

The Three-Fifths CompromiseThe debate over representation (how to count people) also led to problemsSome Southern delegates wanted to count slaves as part of their state populationsNorthern delegates disagreed, thought it was unfairDelegates accepted the Three-Fifths compromise. Each slave would count as 3/5 of a person (100 slaves = 60)

Main ConceptsMost of the delegates wanted a strong national governmentPopular Sovereignty- idea that political authority belongs to the peopleBalance power of national government with power of the statesFederalism- sharing of power between a central government and the statesFederal govt has power to enforce lawsStates must obey authority of Federal govtFederal govt has the power to use the military to enforce lawsTroops are under the command of the presidentStates have control over areas not assigned to Federal govt

Balance of PowerLegislative Branch: CongressProposes and passes laws2 houses: Senate and House of RepresentativesExecutive Branch: PresidentEnforces laws, assures they are carried outCommander-in-Chief of the militaryJudicial Branch: CourtsInterprets laws, punishes criminalsSettles disputes between states

Checks and BalancesKept one branch from gaining too much powerEx:Congress proposes and passes lawsPresident can veto, or reject, that lawCongress can override veto with a 2/3 majority voteJudicial Branch interprets laws to keep other branches from abusing powerSupreme Court reviews laws passed by CongressFederalists vs. AntifederalistsAntifederalists- those that opposed the constitutionFelt the central govt had too much powerUpset that no Bill of Rights was includedFederalists- supported the constitutionFelt it offered a good balance of powerFederalist Papers- essays written supporting the ConstitutionMany written by James Madison and Alexander HamiltonPropaganda supporting the Constitution

RatificationThe Constitution needed approval of 9 states to become ratifiedEach state held conventions to give citizens the chance to discuss the ConstitutionThey could then vote whether or not to ratify itJune 1788, Constitution was ratifiedBill of RightsAmendments- official changes, corrections, or additionsThe Bill of Rights would appear as a series of Amendments to the ConstitutionThe first 10 amendments to the Constitution are known as the Bill of RightsMade sure the abuses listed in the Declaration of Independence would be illegalWould protect citizens individual rights

Constitutions flexibilityHas clear guidelines and principlesCan be changed and updated to stay current with new times and challengesOften called a living constitution