Monday, DEC 16

Today, youll be learning about how the ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION failed.

The Articles of Confederation

During the Revolution, the new United States needed a functioning government Modeled after colonial governments

States would retain sovereignty

Sovereignty: having supreme, independent authority over a geographic area, such as a territory

Founders were fearful of concentrated power due to past experience with the British

Articles of Confederation = A Limited Government

Articles established a firm league of friendship among the states Bills were passed on nine of thirteen votes Amending the Articles took unanimous consent of the states (nothing ever amended they could never get unanimous)

AMEND: to change or modify for the better

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Accomplishments of the Articles of Confederation

Administered the sevenyear Revolutionary war effort Negotiated the Treaty of Paris with Britain in 1783
Established the Northwest Ordinance of 1787

Map of the land settled in the Northwest Ordinance of 1787

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FAILURES of the Articles of Confederation

Problems with the STATES:

Congress had very little power over the individual states. It could not settle disputes between states because there was no national court system.

FAILURES of the Articles of Confederation

Problems with FOREIGN NATONS (other governments around the world):

Because it was so weak, Congress had trouble taking advantage of the territory that the United States had won in the Treaty of Paris. The British did not leave their forts in the Great Lakes region. The British and their Native American allies kept American settlers out of the Northwest Territory. Negotiating with Spain about uses of the Mississippi and port of New Orleans was difficult.
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The Constitutional Convention begins

1787 - Philadelphia Delegates from all the states were invited to a convention to improve the Articles of Confederation, which were not working Only RI didnt attend 55 Delegates attended

Leaders of the Convention

George Washington was asked to preside (lead) over the convention. James Madison kept notes of the discussions and is often called The Father of the Constitution. The men who wrote the Constitution are often referred to as the Founding Fathers. All the participants in the Convention were wealthy, white, males.

The Founding Fathers

Issues that divided the Nations leaders

1) The power of the federal government. Would the states or the federal government have the most power? 2) Representation in Congress (How many members on Congress would each state get? small states wanted equal representation, large states wanted it to be determined by population of the states Slavery How would slaves be counted? Would the slave trade continue?

CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION SIMULATION

You are now going to take part in a SIMULATION of the Actual Constitutional Convention. (YAY!)

YOUR TICKET IN will be a completed 8.4!

You will BECOME a delegate and DEBATE the issues that are Important to You and Your State! At the end, we will SIGN a CONSTITUTION!

The Constitutional Convention CONVENTION SIMULATION

CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION SIMULATION

This Simulation will Serve as part of your UNIT 2 ASSESSMENT. The Combined Points available to earn equal 100! The Other Assessments will be your Guided Lecture/Reading Notes and HW assignments. You will be graded on overall work habits, with particular emphasis on your participation in the Simulation, preparation for the Debate, and performance in the Debate, so please make sure to pay attention to EVERY STEP and please ASK QUESTIONS along the way. (RUBRIC ATTACHED to your ROLE CARDS)

CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION SIMULATION

You will now get a ROLE CARD. Please SILENTLY READ your ROLE CARD and FIILL OUT THE INFORMATION ON YOUR WORKSHEET. (Your Grading starts NOW, BTW! - this is PREPARATION!)

CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION SIMULATION

Now, WHEN I SAY GO, please Stand Up and FIND your Fellow STATE delegates. Given the # of students present, you may be alone, or you may be with three other students. Once you find your Delegation, please sit together and using the PAPER PROVIDED, please QUICKLY make a State Delegation Sign. (3 Min)

EX:

CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION SIMULATION

Next, please make a NAME TAG for yourself.

(5 MIN) DELEGATES NAME IN LARGE LETTERS YOUR STATE A SIMPLE VISUAL THAT REPRESENTS AN ASPECT OF THE DELEGATEs PERSONAL BACKGROUND and CHARACTER.

You must include:

EX:

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN PENNSYLVANIA

CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION SIMULATION

Now, with your nametags on, please circulate the room and take a look at who everyone is, and where they are from! Please note, you are now a FORMAL DELEGATE, and should greet your fellow delegates with APPROPRIATE PHRASES

EX: It is my pleasure to be in your company, Doctor Franklin!: EX: I am heartily glad to see you, Mr. Madison!

Once you meet a new person, on your WORKSHEET, PLEASE write down the names and states of two different DELEGATES from two different STATES! (#4)

CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION SIMULATION

GEORGE WASHINGTON CALLS THE CONVENTION TO ORDER! It is the SUMMER of 1787. I, George Washington call the Delegates of the United States to Order!

We came here to Philadelphia to resolve the Articles of Confederation, but I have decided we must THROW THEM OUT and CREATE a NEW GOVERNMENT! I see that some of you are happy about this change, while others are confused

CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION SIMULATION

VOW OF SECRECY. Some Delegates have expressed concerns about being able to speak their minds freely at the Convention.
PLEASE

ALL RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND AND REPEAT THE FOLLOWING:

I PROMISE NOT TO DIVULGE TO THE PUBLIC WHAT IS DISCUSSED AT THIS CONVENTION

Now,

fill out #5 on your WORKSHEET

CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION SIMULATION

OUR PURPOSE: We are here to discuss the issue of how States should be represented in the new government. I HAVE GENERATED 3 PROPOSALS FOR OUR REVIEW. THEY ARE

CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION SIMULATION

PROPOSAL A: The number of representatives a state sends to Congress will depend on the SIZE of the States POPULATION. PROPOSAL B: Each state will have an EQUAL number of representatives in Congress, regardless of the states size. PROPOSAL C: The number of representatives a state sends to Congress will depend partially on the WEALTH of the Citizens of the state.

CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION SIMULATION

Now, please READ your ROLE CARD to learn about YOUR DELEGATEs VIEWS.
Part of your PREPARATION grade will depend on your ability to DEFEND your delegates views and on your ability to try and convince other delegates to join your side during the Convention Debate.

CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION SIMULATION

You now have SEVEN MINTUES to mingle with like-minded delegates and formulate Arguments to defend your Proposal (A, B, or C).
Please find your AREA of the Room and meet next to YOUR LETTER. Talk to the other Delegates to get their VIEWS on the Proposals. (#6 on WS)

CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION SIMULATION

Now, RETURN TO YOUR STATE DELEGATE Groups. You will now decide, among your State Groups, which Proposal to Support. You are choosing between A, B, or C. Each State has ONE Vote, so you all MUST AGREE on one Proposal. Fill out #6 on WS

CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION SIMULATION

IT IS DEBATE TIME!
George Washington Calls the Debate to Order. EVERYONE GET IN A CIRCLE. Take DEBATE NOTES in Space Provided

CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION SIMULATION

DEBATE PROCEDURES: Step 1: One state delegation nominates one of the proposals above.

Step 2: The nomination is seconded by another state.

Step 3: The nomination is discussed and debated for three to five minutes.
Step 4: The nominated proposal is voted upon. To pass, the nomination must be approved by a majority of the states. A majority means that a proposal receives more than half of the votes. (VOLUNTEER NEEDED TO COUNT VOTES!) Step 5: If the proposal does not pass, repeat the process with a new nomination.

CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION SIMULATION

SPECIAL

NOTE: IF WE ARE STILL DEADLOCKED, You WILL ALL LOSE 10 POINTS for the DEBATE SECTION. MUST be a COMPROMISE!

There

CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION SIMULATION

We

will now Adjourn. Please go back to your State Groups and begin to brainstorm ways to compromise. We will reconvene in 7 minutes.

CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION SIMULATION

IT IS DEBATE TIME!
George Washington Calls the Debate to Order. EVERYONE GET IN A CIRCLE. Take DEBATE NOTES in Space Provided

CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION SIMULATION

Activity Reflections

The Virginia Plan

Called for a new national government. Threw out the Articles of Confederation Three separate branches of government. a legislative branch, executive branch, and judicial branch Representation in the legislative branch based on population of state Large states like the plan, small states dont.

New Jersey Plan

Legislature - has one house. Each state gets one vote. Small states like the plan, the large states hate it. There would have to be a compromise.

The Great Compromise

Legislature would have two houses (parts): House of Representatives and a Senate House - based on the population of state Senate - two senators per each state

Slavery

The Southern states refused to approve the Constitution unless slavery continued. It was a terrible compromise to make, but the Northern states had no choice if they wanted a Constitution. 3/5 Compromise - Made each slave worth 3/5 of a vote in deciding numbers in House of Representatives Congress can not ban the slave trade until 1808.