Founding our Nation Please take out… – your chart from yesterday – Pen/pencil – Notes...
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Transcript of Founding our Nation Please take out… – your chart from yesterday – Pen/pencil – Notes...
Founding our Nation
• Please take out…– your chart from yesterday– Pen/pencil– Notes (RT/Comp/Spiral/whatever)
Founding the Nation
Constitutional Convention
• We are a young nation with new-found freedom and independence from Great Britain– What do we do next?– How are we going to survive and thrive?– Who’s going to be in charge?
Constitutional Convention
• May 1787, to address weaknesses in the Articles of the Confederation– James Madison: “Father of the Constitution”
• Thought federal government was too weak• States put too much power in the hands of the people• Only delegate to show up with a plan!!
Virginia Plan
• Powerful central government• Bi-cameral, based on population– Power to appoint executive and judicial branches
and veto state law
Virginia Plan
• Immediately opposed smaller states– Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts
contained 50% of the U.S. population– “If adopted, just four states could dominate
legislation and ignore the rest”
New Jersey Plan
• Unicameral, equal representation• Great power to Congress, elect executive council
• Large states argued why should Delaware (59,000) have equal power to Virginia (748,000)
New Jersey Plan
Question….
• With a partner…– If you were a delegate at the convention, which of
these two plans would you vote for?– What factors determined your decision?– What issues do you foresee with using your plan?– Do you have a better proposal for the convention?
Connecticut Plan
• Bicameral Congress• Lower house – population– House of Representatives– Directly elected by voters, sole right to initiate
revenue bills; 2-year terms
• Upper House – equal– The Senate– 2 Senators to serve 6-year terms
“Great Compromise”
Powers of Congress
• Tax• Coin and borrow money, issue paper money• Could NOT favor one state over another• Could NOT impose export duties• Amendments had to be ¾ of the states
• Use the textbook (pp. 57, 67) to complete the Bill of Rights chart– In the LEFT column – write the amendment in
your own words– In the RIGHT column – draw a picture to represent
that amendment and the right(s) it protects