Drafting a Constitution

Lesson 2: Drafting a Constitution Social Studies 8 A Unit 5: A Constitution for the United States Objectives: Describe the organizational structure of the government under the Constitution; Align weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation with their solutions in the Constitution; Summarize the conflicts and compromises of the Great Compromise and the Three-Fifths Compromise; Identify key people and describe their roles during the Constitutional Convention; Explain the effects of the Fugitive Slave Act of 1793 The Constitutional Convention Drafting the United States Constitution was no easy task. The Constitution had to protect states’ rights and bring states together as one nation. It also had to establish the roles of the federal and state governments. In May of 1787, the Constitutional Convention met in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Through a series of secret conversations, debates, and ultimately compromises, the delegates were able to resolve their disagreements. Select the play button to access the “Constitutional Convention” Flipped Video from the Realize™ website. Ben Franklin was one of the oldest delegates to attend the Constitutional Convention. Key Words compromise Constitutional Convention executive branch Great Compromise judicial branch legislative branch New Jersey Plan Three-Fifths Compromise Virginia Plan Madison and the Virginia Plan In May of 1787, delegates from the 13 states arrived in Philadelphia to amend the Articles of Confederation. The delegates also aimed to prevent the country from collapsing. Instead of changing the Articles, however, the delegates drafted a document that established a whole new form of government. James Madison prepared for the Constitutional Convention by studying different types of governments to create a plan for a new form of federal government in the United States. He The Constitutional Convention was held in Philadelphia, PA. drafted a plan called the Virginia Plan to present at the convention. Though adjusted and revised, the Virginia Plan was eventually adopted as the model for the U.S. Constitution. Thus, Madison is known as the Father of the Constitution. The Virginia Plan called for three branches of government. Each branch, Madison wrote, would be checked by the other branches. This meant that no one branch would have more power than the other two branches. The three branches of government James Madison proposed were the executive branch, judicial branch, and legislative branch. Those three branches are what make up the U.S. government today. Directions: Before you read, write the lesson name on the blank at the top of the Lesson Note-Taking Organizer and copy the comprehension question(s) from that slide into the Comprehension Questions box. As you read through the lesson text, outline the section and define key words and people in the Notes section on the right. Write the answers to the comprehension questions as you find them in the reading. When you review your notes later, identify the main idea from each section of your notes and add those in the Main Concept sections on the left. Then briefly summarize the entire page of notes in the Summary space at the bottom. Continue this on a new page for each of the Instruction slides of the lesson. Finally, write the questions provided on the Activity and Review slides in the Lesson Activity and Review section and answer them using the notes you take.