hist.g5.s.civ.constitutional_convention_1787
Describe the Constitutional Convention (May-September 1787, Philadelphia) — 55 delegates from 12 states (Rhode Island absent), Washington presiding, the Virginia Plan vs. New Jersey Plan, the Connecticut/Great Compromise, the 3-branch design, the 4-month deliberation under secrecy
Identify Convention structure: 55 delegates (only those whose state legislatures sent them; Rhode Island refused to send any; 39 ultimately signed September 17 1787); George Washington unanimously elected Convention President; James Madison's daily notes the principal primary source. Identify the two opening plans: VIRGINIA PLAN (drafted by Madison, presented by Edmund Randolph) — strong national government, bicameral legislature with BOTH houses apportioned by state POPULATION (favored big states like VA, PA, MA); NEW JERSEY PLAN (presented by William Paterson) — keep equal-state representation as under the Articles (favored small states like NJ, DE, MD, CT). Identify the Connecticut Compromise / Great Compromise (proposed by Roger Sherman of CT, July 16 1787): bicameral legislature with HOUSE apportioned by population (favoring big states) AND SENATE giving each state two equal Senators (favoring small states). Identify the 3-branch design: ARTICLE I Legislative (Congress = House + Senate) / ARTICLE II Executive (President + Vice President) / ARTICLE III Judicial (Supreme Court + lower courts created by Congress). Identify the 4-month deliberation under secrecy (windows shuttered to keep proceedings private; Madison's notes not published until 1840 after his death). Identify the role of the Haudenosaunee Great Law of Peace as one influence on Franklin's thinking about confederate structure (continued from G5-Fall) — though the Convention did NOT consult any Indigenous nation. Identify the 16 delegates who refused to sign + the 3 present who refused to sign at the end (George Mason, Edmund Randolph, Elbridge Gerry — for reasons including absence of a Bill of Rights). Apply iCivics 'Anatomy of the Constitution' lesson set.
- Analyze the Constitution's THREE compromises with slavery taught honestly via Teaching Hard History K-5 — the Three-Fifths Compromise (Art. I §2 cl.3), the Slave Trade Clause (Art. I §9 cl.1), the Fugitive Slave Clause (Art. IV §2 cl.3) — and the fact that the word 'slave' never appears in the document
- Compare and contrast the Federalist and Anti-Federalist arguments in the 1787-1790 ratification debate — Federalist Papers #10 + #51 (Madison) vs. Brutus #1 + Centinel #1 + George Mason + Patrick Henry + Mercy Otis Warren — and explain how the Bill of Rights emerged as a compromise
- Explain the six core constitutional principles — federalism, separation of powers, checks and balances, popular sovereignty, limited government, judicial review — with concrete examples for each, via iCivics 'Branches of Power' simulation
- Believing the Convention 'wrote the Bill of Rights' — the Bill of Rights came LATER as the first 10 Amendments ratified December 15 1791 in response to Anti-Federalist objections.
- Treating the Convention as harmonious — it was deeply contentious, the windows were shuttered, and 3 of the delegates present refused to sign.
- Forgetting Rhode Island was absent — the document was drafted by 12 states' delegates.
- Believing Washington 'wrote' the Constitution — he presided but spoke very rarely; Madison did the most drafting (hence 'Father of the Constitution').