Federalism - The Constitutional Convention
You can find this storyboard in the following articles and resources:
Federalism: The Evolution of a Democratic Republic
Lesson Plans by Richard Cleggett
The United States did not spring into being, fully formed. It took the valiant efforts of patriotic revolutionaries both on and off the battlefield. After many debates and compromises, the US federal government was formed through the development of the Articles of Confederation and the later Constitution. Engage students with premade activities and storyboards with Storyboard That.
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Storyboard Description
What is Federalism? Break down and examine the major ideas and aspects of what made up the Constitutional Convention.
Storyboard Text
- DIVISIONS AT THE CONVENTION
- STRONG FEDERAL GOVERNMENT!
- POWER TO THE STATES!
- AMENDING THE ARTICLES
- ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION
- STRUCTURE OF GOVERNMENT
- LEGISLATIVE
- Divisions existed amongst the delegates at the convention. One group, the Nationalists, argued for a stronger federal government to resolve many issues. The other group, the Anti-federalists, were still supportive of states' power. In addition, smaller states were pitted against larger states over how each would be represented in the federal government.
- The first order of business stemmed from whether, and how, to alter the Articles of Confederation. For some, change was enough, however, many wanted to start from scratch. Eventually, the delegates, in secrecy, agreed to throw out the Articles entirely and start anew in creating the Constitution.
- Delegates debated the manner in which this new government would be structured. First, the federal government as a whole would hold more powers, including the power to tax and regulate commerce. The Executive Branch was strengthened, with Washington being elected president. Federal Courts were also established as part of the Judicial Branch.
- EXECUTIVE
- JUDICIAL
- THE VIRGINIA PLAN
- THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION
- THE NEW JERSEY PLAN
- THE GREAT COMPROMISE
- NEW JERSEY
- James Madison of Virginia came to the convention with a structured plan to help aid the overhaul of government. In his Virginia Plan, Madison proposed three branches of government. The Legislative Branch would also be a bicameral, or two house, legislature. Representation would be based off of state population.
- POPULATION = REPRESENTATION
- Fearing that larger states would dominate government, smaller states proposed the New Jersey Plan in response to Madison's plan. Ultimately, it called for three branches, legislative powers, but a unicameral house. In this one house, each state would hold an equal vote, thus giving smaller states the same voting power as larger states.
- EQUAL REPRESENTATION
- In order to resolve differences between the Virginia and New Jersey plans, the Great Compromise was presented. It created a two house legislature, made up of the Senate and House of Representatives. The Senate would call for two representatives from each state. The House would base representation off state population. This satisfied small and large states.
- VIRGINIA
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