Independence Hall Description
Independence Hall originally served as the State House
of the Colony of Pennsylvania and is best known as the
place where the Declaration of Independence was
adopted by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776. It
was also where the Continental Congress met again
eleven years later and wrote the United States
Constitution. The highlight of the hall is Assembly Hall,
where the Second Continental Congress met behind
closed doors and drawn curtains to discuss their desire
for independence from the British. This is where the
Declaration of Independence was signed and where
George Washington was chosen as Commander-in-Chief
of the Continental Army.
Constitutional Convention
Why did they have a
Constitutional Convention?
Articles of Confederation were to weak to function. States
had all the power. The
Events like SHAY'S REBELLION convinced many people
that the government was collapsing and ineffective.
PROBLEMS TO BE FACED BY THE CONSTITUTIONAL
CONVENTION:
1. Central Government vs. States:
Who would hold the power? (text p. 221)
2. BIG vs. SMALL:
How would Representation be divide up? (p. 197)
Would it be population? What about the slaves? (p. 198)
3. Rights of Citizens-/-Checks and Balances on Power
How would citizens rights be protected with a
powerful central government? (p. 207)
How would the central government power be
divided up? (p. 223, 203)
fear of another tyrant
weak central gov't
Article of Confederation
KING
Central Gov't
Central Gov't
Power comes
from states to
Articles/
Central Gov.
Power comes from
king to colonies
Colonies
States
U. S. Constitution
weak central gov't
didn't work.....
Central Gov't
Power is shared, with Central
Government and States each having
certain rights and powers--Central is
higher though.
States
U. S. Constitution
Central Gov't
Power is shared, with Central
Government and States each having
certain rights and powers--Central is
higher though.
States
This leads to the U.S. Constitutions concept of........
FEDERALISM
Central/National Government
State Government
Taxes
Powers both National and State Governments have or share
At the convention the first argument was about REPRESENTATION and how it would be determined....
Virginia Plan
VS
New Jersey Plan
-Big State Plan --Favored
states with Large Populations
-Small State Plan --Favored
states with small populations
-Wanted Representation
based on Population
-Wanted One Vote per state,
regardless of populations
-Had a Bi-Cameral Legislature
-Had a Unicameral Legislature
-Three Branches of
Federal Governmen t--
VIRGINIA PLAN
NEW JERSEY PLAN
GREAT COMPROMISE
"Connecticut Compromise"
· Combined parts of the two different state plans
· Created a BI-CAMERAL Legislature (TWO-Chamber-CONGRESS)
· One Body Created was the HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; This body's
representatives was based on a State's POPULATION (Virginia Plan)
· The other body created was the SENATE; This body of representatives (each called
SENATORS) was set at 2 Senators per State
· Included the concept of 3 BRANCHES of Government
· A CENSUS would be taken every 10 years to decide Representation
Once the Great Compromise was decided, states wanted as many representatives as possible to get more power.
Representation in the House of Representativeswas based on Population so the Southern states decided that
SLAVES should be counted in their populations. The Northern states, with few if any slaves in their population,
decided this was not fair. This argument ended in another Compromise over power.
3/5ths Compromise
The states settled on the idea of counting every 5 slaves as 3 people
in their states population. This meant......
EVERY SLAVE ONLY COUNTED AS 3/5ths OF A PERSON
THREE BRANCHES OF
GOVERNMENT
Congress (House of Representatives and Senate)
Role is to make Laws/Decide Taxes and Spending/
LEGISLATIVE Impeachment of Elected Officials/Aprove Judicial
Appointments/ Overide with 2/3 of votes
EXECUTIVE
JUDICIAL
The President and Cabinet (Heads of Departments)
Role is to sign bills (proposed laws) into Law/ Heads
Departments that enforce the Laws (Departments of
Education, Justice, Transportation, etc.)/ Commander in Chief
of Armed Forces/ Veto of Proposed Bills/ Proposes
Appointments to Judicial Branch
The Supreme Court and the Federal Court System
Role is to decide if Laws are Unconstitutional (illegal)/
Reviews Court Cases from Lower Courts/
Highest Court of Appeal in Nation/
Appointed Supreme Court Justice for Life/
CHECKS AND BALANCES
http://itasca.k12.il.us/peacock/7team/peel/historyclassroom/reviews/GIFS/Checks%20&%
20Balances.htm
3 BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT
TERMS--WORDS--CONCEPTS TO KNOW, TO HELP YOU IN UNDERSTANDING......
Republic
Separation of Powers
President
Congress
House of Representatives
Federalism
Senate
Checks and Balances
New Jersey Plan
Bill
Virginia Plan
Great Compromise
Veto
3/5ths Compromise
Override
Ratify
Impeach
Amend
Bill of Rights
Tyranny
Supreme Court
Legislative Branch
3 Branches
Executive Branch
Judicial Branch
Compromise
Constitution
Please answer the following questions. Please cut and paste them. Answer in complete sentences.
1.
2.
Why did the Founding Fathers make the Articles of Confederation weak?
Why was there a Constitutional Convention? Explain.
3.
What were three problems the delegates at the Constitutional Convention faced with solving?
4.
What was Great Compromise? Why was it necessary? What was compromised
5.
What was the Virginia Plan? The New Jersey Plan?
Movie file