1 / 7

Constitutional Convention

The Constitutional Convention of 1787 prompted a fierce debate between proponents of the Virginia Plan, favoring a strong central government with proportional representation, and the New Jersey Plan, advocating for equal representation regardless of state size. Key compromises emerged, including the Connecticut Compromise, establishing a bicameral legislature. Federalists supported a robust national government, while Anti-Federalists emphasized state power and individual rights. This pivotal disagreement laid the foundation for the United States Constitution and the ongoing dialogue about federalism and representation in America.

agatha
Télécharger la présentation

Constitutional Convention

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Constitutional Convention

  2. Virginia v. New Jersey Plan Virginia Plan New Jersey Plan • James Madison • Strong Central Govt • 3 Branches- Executive, Judicial, Legislative • Legislative is most powerful • Legislature (Congress has 2 houses) • Proportional Representation in Congress • Reps equal to size of states’ population– Which states would like this???? • More similar to Articles of Confederation • Congress has only 1 house • Weak Central Govt • Equal representation in Congress- each state has same number of delegates no matter size– which states would like this??

  3. Compromises • Connecticut- How should representatives be chosen? Proportional or equal? • House of Reps- proportional • Senate- equal • 3/5 Compromise- Which people should count in the population of each state? Just free people or free and slave? • Slaves count as 3/5 in terms of population

  4. How strong should the federal government be? Federalists Anti-Federalists • Favored a strong central government • One of government’s prime functions was to maintain order • Wanted three branches and a two house legislature • Feared the masses getting too much power • What about problems like state money and taxes? • Favored a weak central government • Strong state governments • Wanted the government to be close to the people • State governments would be more sympathetic to the people than a large central government • Didn’t want to federal government to keep an army

  5. Who is fit to rule? Anti-Federalists Federalists • Elitists • Saw themselves and those of their class as fit to govern (others were to be governed) • Believed that everyday people were not fit to rule • Had the support of property owners, rich merchants of Northeast and Middle Atlantic states • Believed in the decency of the common man and in participatory democracy • Wanted greater protection of individual rights ( a bill of rights!) • Had the support of many small farmers, shopkeepers, and laborers

  6. How should the people be represented? Federalists Anti-Federalists • Virginia Plan • SUPPORTED THE CONSTITUTION AS WRITTEN • New Jersey Plan • Eventually OPPOSED ratification of the Constitution as we know it

More Related