Creating the New America:
The Role of Virginia and Famous Virginians
SOL VS 6a – 6c
We the people
in order to form
a more perfect union
establish justice insure peace and tranquility
provide for the common defence
promote the general welfare and
ensure the blessings of liberty
for ourselves and our posterity
do ordain and establish this Constitution
for the United States of America
Jennifer Amores-Kalich / Sugarland Elementary
Vocabulary “pre-view” and Review
Constitution (noun) - a document written to state the basic laws and
rules of a government.
Convention (noun) - a large meeting of members of a group for a
common purpose.
Compromise (noun) - an agreement ; in order to reach an
agreement, each person or side must give up some of its demands
Representatives from 12 states, including some
members of the Continental Congress, held a
convention to discuss and plan for the new
government of the now independent United States.
The plan and document would be known as the
Constitution. There was much arguing and debate,
each representative or delegate had their own ideas:
how about a
small, weak
government…
We the people
in order to form
a more perfect union
how about a big,
strong
government…
establish justice insure peace and tranquility
provide for the common defence
promote the general welfare and
ensure the blessings of liberty
how about one
main decision
maker & leader,
like a “king”…
How about each
state doing their
own thing…
The freedom of speech
The freedom of the press
for ourselves and our posterity
do ordain and establish this Constitution
for the United States of America
The freedom of religion
Much later, James Madison suggested the “Virginia Plan.” The
delegates finally agreed to compromise and everyone began to
work towards a mutual acceptance of several ideas.
James Madison The Father of the Constitution
The Virginia Plan –
the idea of a legislative
body made of 2 houses
(groups or chambers)
AND a strong, central
government
Important Virginians “pre-view” and Review
George Washington - a General during the French &
Indian War and the American Revolution; was elected the
first President of the newly independent United States of
America
The “Father of Our Country”
How did George Washington
earn this special title?
George Mason - author of the Virginia Declaration of Rights ;
he was
a firm believer that people should have specific freedoms and rights such as:
The Freedom of Speech, The Freedom of Religion , The Freedom of a
Fair Trial, and The Freedom to Participate in the Government through
Elections
The Virginia Declaration of Rights became
Virginia’s Constitution (the foundation of
Virginia’s State Government).
It was the first of its kind in the newly
independent United States of America.
How did Mason’s document, The
Virginia Declaration of Rights later
influence Thomas Jefferson’s document,
The Declaration of Independence?
George Mason’s work was not only influential for
Thomas Jefferson, it was the biggest influence on
creating the Bill of Rights of the Constitution of
the United States of America.
Delegates at the
Constitutional
Convention in
Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania
debated and debated
for 16 weeks.
(That’s a very long
time to discuss &
argue and not reach
your goals!)
The delegates of the newly independent United States of America
were acting more like separate colonies than a “united” country.
Finally… after almost 4 months
the delegates compromised and
George Mason strongly
encouraged delegates to amend
the Constitution to include the
Bill of Rights.
The state of Virginia became the
10th state to officially join the
Union ( or The United States of
America ) only after Mason was
satisfied with the ten
amendments to the Constitution
document.
More Helpful Vocabulary :
amend (verb) - to change laws, rules or governing plans
example sentence: The delegates argued because some wanted
to amend the first set of laws in the document to be better.
amendments (noun) - the changes, revisions, or
corrections made to rules, laws, or a plan
example sentence: The first and original rules are not effective, the
delegates must add amendments so the citizens will be
protected and satisfied.
ratify (verb) - to approve a law, amendment, or treaty
example sentence: The delegates met for weeks and weeks
because they kept discussing and arguing, it took a very long
time to agree and ratify the final decisions about our laws.
Thomas Jefferson - main author of the Declaration of
Independence, and later after the American Revolution in
1786, he wrote the Virginia Statute for Religious
Freedom
all people should be free
to worship as they please
basis for the FIRST AMENDMENT
Do you think the
FIRST AMENDMENT
is important, explain why?
of The Constitution
of the United States of America
James Madison
important representative or delegate at
the Constitutional Convention ;
he was very good with details and took very
accurate notes during these crucial meetings ;
Madison was also a very skilled compromiser; and
He helped the delegates come to an agreement during the
very difficult process of writing the Constitution of the
United States of America.
How can you be a good compromiser like James Madison?
Quick Review Quiz ! I hope you’re ready…
George Washington accomplished many things during his adult life.
What are the special titles and roles he earned?
“ General ” for the British Army during the
French & Indian War
“ General ” for the Continental Army
during the American Revolution
the first elected “ President ” of the newly
independent United States of America
… there are many reasons why George
Washington had important leadership roles
and is known as the “Father of Our
Country.”
George Mason is a very important Virginian.
How did his beliefs influence Thomas Jefferson and the creation of the
Bill of Rights and the Constitution of the United States of America?
Mason believed that all Virginians must
have certain rights: religious freedom,
freedom for newspapers to write the
truth, freedom for citizens to participate
in their government, and the freedom for
accused people to have a fair trial in court
These strong beliefs are the foundation of
building our nation and organizing our
government.
After the American Revolution, other
important aspects such as the creation of our
government also changed…
The lives of many Virginian farmers and
farm workers changed, especially the lives of
those in the tobacco industry.
Remember: The Virginia colony was very
dependent on agriculture, specifically on the
growing & selling of tobacco.
Virginia tobacco farmers were only allowed to sell their tobacco to
England … what do you think happened to these farmers during
and after the Revolutionary War against England?
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Kentucky
(
Tennessee
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Kentucky
the bordering state to our west
Tennessee
the bordering state to our southwest
Traditions (noun) - the inherited or established usual ways a
person acts or behaves.
Your family has traditions you do for holidays and your
family does these same special things every holiday.
EXAMPLE:
Culture (noun) - the shared traditions, customs, beliefs, and
values of a group of people.
Since the first Jamestown settlers came from England, they
had the same culture as the people who were still back in England.
EXAMPLE:
If your family
originally came from
another country, you
probably do many of
the same things as
your relatives back in
your homeland.
Your family took their
traditions, ideas, &
cultures with them to
America.
Can you earn an “A” on this QUICK REVIEW ?
George Mason believed Virginians should have certain rights:
freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of the press,
freedom to participate in government elections, and freedom to
have a fair trial.
Thomas Jefferson gave many ideas to George Mason when
he wrote the Virginia Declaration of Rights.
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Mason wrote the Virginia Declaration of Rights before the American
Revolution and Mason’s writing influenced Thomas Jefferson when
Jefferson was writing the Declaration of Independence during the
American Revolution.
James Madison had many skills. He was a great
compromiser and paid close attention to details during the
Constitutional Convention. These are reasons why he is
known as “The Father of the Constitution.”
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Why did many Virginia farmers migrate west and south ?
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What did these Virginians take with them as they moved out of
Virginia and into the west and south ?
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The migrating settlers crossed over the Appalachian
Mountains through the Cumberland Gap.
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