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Constitutional Convention: Time to Unify this Nation!

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Keep in mind: The Great Compromise, did not end all debates involving representation during the Constitutional Convention. Enslaved Africans were not yet counted as American citizens, yet, delegates from varying states had their own ideas as to how to count enslaved Africans for representation.

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What regional (Northern vs. Southern) concerns or prejudices do you think would influence a delegates point of view when deciding the citizen status of an enslaved African?

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Did you know when the framers were toiling away at the Constitution: It was in the middle of summer! It was hot & humid! Framers wore wool, wigs and jackets! There were no ceiling fans or air conditioners! AND they kept the windows closed to keep out pesky mosquitoes, bugs and to prevent anyone passing by from listening!!

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Southern Delegates wanted enslaved Africans to be counted as part of their population. Not because they wanted to give them citizenship, but because increased population meant more representatives in Congress, thus more power! Northern Delegates disagreed, they had fewer slaves. They wanted slave population to determine taxes and not representation. To resolve this, some delegates thought of a compromise!

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Three Fifths Compromise: Delegates wanted to count three-fifths of the slaves in each state as part of the states population. There was much debate! Whats this 3/5 mean anyway? For every five slaves, three would be added to the population count, which was used to determine representation in the House of Representatives! The final compromise of counting "all other persons" as only three- fifths of their slave population. For example, in 1793 southern slave states would have been apportioned 33 seats in the House of Representatives had the seats been assigned based on the free population; instead they were apportioned 47. As a result, southerners dominated the Presidency, the Speakership of the House of Reps, and the Supreme Court.

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I. Federalism:

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Constitution balances the power of the government among 3 branches: I.Legislative Branch : Proposes and passes laws. **Congress is made up of two CHAMBERS, as were created in the Great Compromise. A. Senate (upper house): Has two members from each state. B. House of Representatives (lower house): Each state is represented by population as well.

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Constitution balances the power of the government among 3 branches: II.Executive Branch: Ensures that laws are being carried out. **Made up of the president & the departments that help run the government.

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Constitution balances the power of the government among 3 branches: III. Judicial Branch : Responsible for: interpreting laws, punishing criminals, and settling disputes between states. **Is made up of all the national courts. (federal court system).

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Legislative Branch Executive Branch Judicial Branch Examples: Can override a Presidential veto! Examples: Can veto a bill or call a special session of Congress! Examples Can determine if a law is Constitutional!

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The U.S. Constitution created a system of Checks and Balances where there is a Separation of Powers equally among all three branches of government. Separation of Powers : was put into place to prevent one branch from becoming supreme over the other branches. In this way each branch stands guard over the others and keeps check, so that no one branch can misuse its power and/or becomes too powerful!

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Work with your desk buddy to fill these out, each of you still has to answer in your own packet. Take about 8 minutes to complete We will then check for correct answers

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Executive Branch of Government: The division of the federal government that includes the president and the administrative departments; enforces the nations laws. Federalism: U. S. system of government in which power is distributed between a central government and individual states. Judicial Branch of Government: The Constitution created this branch of the United States government, it is made up of the Supreme Court and other federal courts; and its responsible for the administration of justice, by interpreting laws. Legislative Branch of Government: The two chamber branch of government, which consists of the House of Representatives and the Senate. This division proposes bills and passes them into laws. Three-Fifths Compromise: In 1787, an agreement worked out at the Constitutional Convention stating that enslaved people would be counted as three-fifths of a person when determining a states population for representation in the lower house of Congress.

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The Constitution balanced power amongst 3 branches of government: Legislative, Executive, & Judicial. But this was only possible after much deliberation and compromise. Up next: Antifederalists arise! The Federalists (those in favor of a federal/national government under a constitution), have to struggle to get the new U.S. Constitution approved by the states!