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Chapter 9, Lesson 2
ACOS #9: List inadequacies of the Articles of
Confederation and struggles over the ratification of the
Constitution.
ACOS #9a: List powers granted to Congress, the
President, and those of the people.
ACOS #9b: Discuss major ideas of the Constitution,
including powers of the three branches of government.
ACOS #9d: Describe the process by which territories
achieve statehood under the Constitution.
Constitutional Convention
• Delegates met in Philadelphia to change the way the
government worked.
• This meeting of these 55 delegates became known as the
Constitutional Convention.
• Only white men who owned land were included.
• James Madison, George
Washington, and Benjamin
Franklin were all present.
Changing the Articles of
Confederation
• Madison and Washington wanted a federal system.
• In a federal system, the states share power with the central
government, but the central government has more power.
• In addition, Madison wanted a republic
government.
A republic is a
government in which the
citizens elect leaders to
represent them. The
power comes from the
citizens.
Creating a New
Government
• Edmund Randolph, governor
of Virginia, presented
Madison’s plan. He called it
the Virginia Plan.
• This plan called for a federal
system in which the national
government had three parts
or branches. Many state
governments were already
set up this way.
• One branch, the Congress
would make laws; another
would carry them out;
another, the courts, would
settle legal arguments.
The Virginia Plan
• Most delegates accepted the Virginia Plan. There was only one
part many did not like.
• It stated the members in Congress would be based on that state’s
population. Smaller states did not like this.
• Smaller states came up with the New Jersey Plan. This plan gave
each state one vote so all states would have the same amount of
power.
• Roger Sherman of Connecticut offered a solution. He suggested
dividing Congress into two parts or houses.
• Each state would have an equal number of representatives in one
house, the Senate. The other House, the House of Representatives,
would be based on population.
• This became known as the Great Compromise.
• A compromise means that both sides give up something.
The Issue of Slavery
• Another problem delegates argued over was
slavery.
• Counting slaves would give some states
more representatives in Congress.
• Many delegates thought this was unfair
because slaves were treated as property,
not citizens.
• This led to the 3/5 Rule. The rule
counted five slaves for three free
people.
Ratifying the Constitution
• On September 17, 1787, the
Constitution of the U S was signed.
• It was based on Madison’s Plan.
For this, Madison has been called
the “Father of the Constitution.”
• Before the Constitution could be
used, at least 9 of 13 states had to
ratify or accept it.
• Those who supported the Constitution
were known as Federalists. They had
to convince these states to accept it.
Antifederalists
• Those who were against a federal system
were called Antifederalists.
• Their biggest complaint was that the
Constitution did not have a Bill of Rights.
• A Bill of Rights is a list of the rights of
individuals, such as freedom and religion.
• Madison and other Federalist agreed to
add a Bill of Rights, once the Constitution
was accepted.
Ratification
• Delaware was the first state to ratify, or
accept, the Constitution.
• In the end, all 13 states ratified.
• The United States had a new government.
Vocabulary Review
A system where states share
power with the central
government
federal system
A government in which the
citizens elect leaders to
represent them.
republic
When both sides give up
something
compromise
To accept
ratify
Vocabulary Review Continued
constitution
citizen
A written plan for
government.
An official member of a
city, a state, or a nation.
territory
Land ruled by a national
government but which has
no representatives in the
government.
ordinance
A law