A New Constitution –
Compromise Required
VA Plan vs. NJ Plan
•  VA Plan- Appealed to large states; the small
states feared a government dominated by large
states would ignore their interests.
•  The Virginia Plan called for a chief executive
chosen by the legislature.
•  NJ Plan- Called for 3 branches of gov’t. Each
state would get one house and one vote.
•  This plan gave equal power to large and small
states
Great Compromise
•  Great Compromise – Created by Roger
Sherman of Connecticut, called for each
state to have equal representation in
senate.
•  Representatives from the lower house
would be determined by population.
Slavery
Slavery?
•  Three-Fifth’s Compromise- every 5
enslaved persons would count as 3 free
persons.
•  Slavery = major
Source of labor for
Southern States.
Approving the Constitution
•  Ratification required 9 out of 13 to vote yes!!!
•  Federalists- Supported new Constitution.
•  Anti-Federalists-Were against the new
Constitution
•  Federalism- form of
Government in which power
is divided between federal
or national government
and the states.
Let’s Make A Deal
•  Delegates worried about and wanted of
Bill of Rights.
•  Freedoms that the Gov’t could never take
away.
•  Bill of Rights – 1st 10 Amendments to the
Constitution.
•  September 17, 1787 new Constitution
signed.
Constitution
New Plan of Government
Bill of Rights
•  Bill of Rights 1st 10
amendments to
constitution.
•  10 freedoms the
Gov’t could never
take away.
•  Led to the signing and
ratifying of the new
constitution.
Ratifying the Constitution
•  Ratified December 7,
1787.
•  Delaware 1st state to
ratify (approve).
•  June 1, 1788 – New
Hampshire becomes 9th
state to ratify.
•  Needed 9/13 to ratify…
Constitution is now the
Gov’t & law of the USA