Constitutional Convention

Name______Date______

US History: Zagari/Squires

Of 1787

“Bundle of Compromises”

Directions: Using your textbook, pg. 142-143 and complete the following organizer. Write a brief explanation of the issue, the different positions held and the compromise that was reached.

Issue NJ Plan VA Plan Compromise Representation in  Unicameral  Appeased larger Great Compromise Congress legislature (1) populated states  Bicameral (2) Congress with  Each state would  2 house legislature the House of receive two senators (bicameral) Representatives and Senate regardless of  Both houses would  House of Representatives population be based on state (lower house) seats are  William Patterson population based on population size of  Appease small states the state who feared larger o Census is taken state would every 10 years to dominate the federal determine legislature population size  Senate (Upper house) seats based on 2 per state

Issue North South Compromise Should slaves be  Slaves should not be  Wanted slaves to be  3/5 Compromise considered as counted towards counted towards 3 out of every 5 slaves would count part of the population for the general towards taxation and population general representatives but population but not population? towards taxation towards taxation   They were considered that if slaves were not counted towards population the national legislature would be dominated by northern states Issue Strong Central Government Strong State Government Compromise  Central government  Authority derives Federalism (division of States are fearful of a should be stronger from the states powers between state and repeat of the colonial  Authority derives  States should fed) experience under British from the people remain stronger rule.  than the central Delegated Powers: Powers government given to the federal government

Reserved Powers: powers reserved to the states

Concurrent: powers that are shared between states and federal

Summary:

1. Why the Constitution was considered a “bundle of compromises”?

2. How did the compromises made, at the convention, address the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation?

3. Does the Constitution reflect a change in the purpose of government? Why? Why not?