Compromise
Architects

Constructing the U.S. Constitution

The Mission

"I can identify the contributions of the Founding Fathers and analyze the compromises that shaped our government."

Active Monitoring Phase

1: The Convention Opens

Text Page 27

The Constitutional Convention did not get off to a smooth start. Only a handful of delegates from two states showed up in the Pennsylvania State House for the convention’s opening on May 14. Spring rains and muddy roads delayed the arrival of many of the delegates for days. A quorum was finally achieved on May 25, with 29 delegates from 7 states. By a unanimous vote, they elected George Washington president of the convention and adopted several rules of procedure.

Annotation

1. Circle the date a quorum was achieved.
2. Box the word quorum.

Key: Convention Opens

...A quorum was finally achieved on May 25...

2: The Need for Secrecy

Text Page 27

"The delegates decided that all debates and discussion should be kept secret. The convention had already attracted much public attention, and the delegates hoped to protect themselves from outside pressure and ensure that they could speak their minds freely. To enforce secrecy, guards were placed outside the doors of the State House."

Stop & Jot

Why were guards placed outside? Write 1 reason in your guide.

Key: Secrecy

Reason: To protect from outside pressure and allow delegates to speak their minds freely.

3: Deciding to Write a New Constitution

Text Page 27

The convention had been called “for the sole and express purpose of revising the Articles of Confederation,” and the delegates shared a strong sense of urgency... Even before the meeting began, however, several delegates believed that more was needed than a simple revision of the Articles. James Madison already had an outline for a new constitution and Alexander Hamilton declared that the Articles “are fit neither for war nor peace.”

Annotation

Underline the names of the two Architects mentioned here.

Key: Architects

...delegates believed that more was needed... James Madison... and Alexander Hamilton declared...

4: The Virginia Plan

Text Page 28

"Proposed by Edmund Randolph... written largely by James Madison. It included:"

Three separate branches—legislative, executive, and judicial.
Congress would consist of two houses: House of Representatives and Senate.
In both houses, the number of representatives from each state would be based on its population.
Congress would choose members of the judicial branch as well as a President.

TPS

"Why would large states love this plan?"

5: The New Jersey Plan

Text Page 28

"After two weeks... William Paterson of New Jersey proposed the alternative... Paterson’s plan also called for three branches of government... In this plan, all states, large or small, would have an equal number of representatives in Congress."

Stop & Jot

Who proposed this plan? Write their name.

Annotation

Underline the part about representation.

Key: NJ Plan

...proposed by William Paterson... all states, large or small, would have an equal number of representatives in Congress.

6: The Great Compromise

Text Page 29

"Roger Sherman of Connecticut proposed a compromise... The Great Compromise proposed that:"

Congress should consist of two houses, a House of Representatives and a Senate.
A state’s representation in the House would be based on population.
Each state would have two representatives in the Senate.

Annotation

Underline the parts that satisfied Large vs. Small states.

Key: Great Compromise

LARGE: House... based on population.

SMALL: Senate... two representatives.

7: The Three-Fifths Compromise

Text Page 29

"Southerners... wanted their slaves counted as population. Northerners protested... After long and bitter dispute... three fifths of the slaves in any state would be counted in population figures—both for representation and for taxation."

Annotation

Underline the two reasons slaves were counted.

Key: 3/5ths

...counted in population figures—both for representation and for taxation.

8: Commerce and Slave Trade

Text Page 30

"South’s agricultural economy depended heavily on exports... southern delegates insisted that Congress be forbidden to tax exports... whereby Congress could not interfere with the slave trade for at least 20 years after the Constitution went into effect."

Annotation

Circle the wait time (number of years).

Key: Commerce

Congress could not interfere with the slave trade for at least 20 years...

9: Finalizing the Work

Text Page 30

"They appointed Gouverneur Morris to head the Committee on Style... They assembled on September 17, 1787, to sign their names to the Constitution..."

Annotation

Underline the Architect's name.

The Architects (TEKS 1D)

James Madison

Wrote the Virginia Plan; kept detailed debate records.

Roger Sherman

Proposed the Great Compromise to settle representation.

Alexander Hamilton

Argued for strong national power and a powerful executive.

George Mason

Refused to sign without a Bill of Rights protecting citizens.

Gouverneur Morris

"The Penman" who drafted the famous final wording (Preamble).

Adams & Jefferson

Intellectual Guides

"A document that changed history."

Transition to your Section Review assessment.

Compromise Architects Slides

Compromise Architects Slides

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