Unit 1: Foundations of American Democracy

1. Unit 1: Foundations of American Democracy Lecture & Discussion 4: Ratification of the U.S. Constitution

2. Enduring Understanding The Constitution emerged from the debate about the weaknesses in the Articles of Confederation as a blueprint for limited government.

3. Objective(s) To explain the ongoing impact of negotiation and compromise at the Constitutional Convention on the development of the U.S. political system.

4. Do Now Read the political cartoon and answer the prompts. What is the topic? What is the key issue(s)? How does the cartoon relate to political processes at the constitutional convention?

5. A. Convening of the Convention • The Framers • 55 delegates from twelve states convened at Independence Hall in Philadelphia in the summer of 1787 (No Rhode Island) • framers were young, but politically experienced (Ie. lawyers, governors, signees of Declaration of Independence, Revolutionary war vets)

6. A. Convening of the Convention • Competing Interests • delegates agreed on basic principles of government: limited, individual rights & popular sovereignty • BUT…they represented different interests from separate states (e.g. people, geography, economies); so compromise necessary for adoption and ratification of new Constitution

7. B. Major Debates • Representation in Congress • Virginia Plan proposed a bicameral legislature with representation in both houses based on the size of each state’s population • New Jersey Plan proposed a unicameral legislature with equal representation for states • Connecticut Compromise created a bicameral legislature comprised of a Senate based on equal representation and a House of Representatives based on population

8. B. Major Compromises • Slave Population • North wanted slaves to be counted for taxation, but not for determining representation • South wanted slaves to be counted when determining representation, but not for taxation • Three-fifths Compromise called for a slave to be counted as 3/5ths of a “free person” for both taxation and representation purposes

9. B. Major Compromises • Commerce • North favored giving Congress powers to protect its goods against foreign imports and generate revenue via U.S. exports • South worried that Congress might place import tariffs on finished goods from Britain and export tariffs on its raw materials • Commerce Compromise gave Congress authority to regulate trade, but allowed tariffs on only imports and not exports

10. B. Major Compromises • Slavery • North opposed slavery and wanted to bring an end to the importation and sale of slaves • South felt slavery was vital to their economy and did not want the government to interfere in the slave trade • Slavery Compromise barred Congress from banning the slave trade for twenty years

11. B. Major Compromises • Election of the President • some delegates favored a popular election • others thought Congress should select the President, as they feared the electorate would not be informed enough to make the decision • the Electoral College was created, in which a special body of electors would cast votes for President and Vice President

12. B. Major Debates • Bill of Rights • Federalists argued Constitution created a limited government by virtue of delegating very specific powers to the three branches • Anti-Feds argued Constitution did not protect state sovereignty and individual rights • Massachusetts Compromise: Anti-Feds agreed to support ratification with the understanding the Federalists accept a proposed Bill of Rights

13. C. Constitutional Issues The negotiation and compromise reached at the Constitutional Convention remain an integral component of American democracy. Federal authority, the powers of state governments, and the rights of individuals remain at the heart of present-day constitutional issues. For example, there is controversy and debate over government surveillance in the wake of the attacks on 9/11.

14. C. Constitutional Issues Directions: Analyze the infographics in the article “Balancing Act: National Security & Civil Liberties in the Post-9/11 Era” and respond to the prompts. Describe a) the data and b) trends in the data, and c) possible limitations of the data. How do political negotiation and compromise continue to play a role in American democracy?