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4.2 The Constitutional Convention

Leaders Assemble at the Convention

  1. Compare and Contrast: Use the graphic organizer below to take notes about the views of Alexander Hamilton and James Madison

    Alexander Hamilton James Madison
    Conservative in principles
    Disliked democracy and praised the British constitution
    Insisted that a balanced government should have aristocracy and monarchy as well as republicanism
    Advocated for a strong central government
    President holds office for life    		 Favored republicanism rather than a constitution modeled after the British
    Large republic with diverse interests would be best to preserve common good, as they would check each oher
    Hoped that the nation’s most learned men rather than local political leaders would govern the national Republic

  2. Determine Central Ideas: What weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation did the Constitutional Convention hope to address? Articles of Confederation did not let Congress to have power to regulate interstate and international commerce, and the fact that Americans wanted Congress to have the power to set taxes.

  3. Draw Conclusions: Consider the men who gathered for the Constitutional Convention. What were the possible strengths and weaknesses of this group? It was an assembly of demi-gods - mainly people who were involved directly with the revolution. However, they were comprised of all white males, many who were wealthy, and half had slaves, and more than half were lawyers. This can be perceived as a pro or a con because as they are so similar, they would have similar biases.

Constitutional Compromises

  1. Compare and Contrast: Use the chart below to show the key parts of the Virginia and New Jersey plans. Include information about who presented each plan and how the presidency, the legislature, and the power of the federal and state governments would would under the plan. Then, write a *beside any part of that has lasted until today.

    Virginia Plan New Jersey Plan
    Tax and commerce regulation
    Government divide power into three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial
    Proposed a bicameral legislature with a House of Representatives and Senate
    States with larger populations would have more members within the legislature
    Congress could veto any state law
    President had a term of 7 years, but only one term
    President would command armed forces and manage foreign relations, as well as appointing executive and judicial officers, as long as Senate approved    		 Tax and commerce regulation*
    Unicameral legislature representing the states as equals, no matter big or small
    Preserved executive committee rather than adopting a singular President
    States remained sovereign except for those few powers specifically granted to the national government

  2. Vocabulary—Determine Meaning: What is a stalemate? Why did the delegates want to prevent a stalemate in the Constitutional Convention? Stalemate is to be locked in a position where no one can move. Delegates wanted to prevent such a thing from happening as they would have otherwise never reached agreement, in other words no progress would have been made.

  3. Analyze Interactions Among Individuals, Events, and Ideas: How did the Three-Fifths Compromise affect the institution of slavery in subsequent years? The Three-Fifths compromise allowed for slavery to exist, and gave southern states more power and representation within the the legislative branch. It also enforced the fact that escaped slaves would be returned to their original owners