Philadelphia Convention

Question 1

What is Equal Representation?

Answer 1

• Idea that each state should have the some number of representatives in Congress
• The number of representatives in Senate is based on equal representation

Small states feared larger states would control the government, so they wanted equal representation

Question 2

What is Proportional Representation?

Answer 2

• The electoral system in which the number of representatives for a state is based on the number of people who live in that state
• The number of representatives in the House is based on proportional representation

Large states thought that equal representation was unfair because a state with more people should have more votes, so they wanted proportional representation

Question 3

What was the Philadelphia Convention?

Also known as the Constitutional Convention

Answer 3

From May-September, 1787: the constitution was written

Congress invited delegates from each state (called the Framers), result of Shay’s Rebellion

Question 4

What was the purpose of the Philadelphia Convention?

Answer 4

Purpose was to find a way to improve the Articles of Confederation

Question 5

Philadelphia Convention

Rules the Framers agreed to follow:

Answer 5

• not improve Articles but write a new constitution,
• keep what was said a secret for 30 years (didn’t want delegates to be afraid to speak freely),
• each state got 1 vote

Question 6

Disagreements at the Philadelphia Convention:

Answer 6

• north and south tariffs and slavery
• how many representatives each state should have in Congress
• strong or weak national government;

Question 7

What happened after the Philadelphia convention?

Answer 7

Federalists started to promote the Constitution (Federalist and Anti-Federalist Papers)

Question 8

What Ideas did the Framers agree to include in the new Constitution?

Answer 8

• Should be a constitutional government (a government of limited powers)
• Purpose of government to protect fundamental rights and promote the common good, so a strong government was necessary
• Republican form of government of elected representatives
• A system of separation of powers and checks and balances to prevent abouse of power

Question 9

What was the New Jersey plan?

Answer 9

Presented at Constitutional Convention that called for a one-house legislative branch and equal representation

Question 10

What did the New Jersey plan call for?

Answer 10

• Followed Articles of Confederation and favored a weak national government (1 house legislative branch)
• Congress had the power to control trade and collect taxes/money on products if states didn’t pay their taxes
• Equal representation

Question 11

What was the Virginia plan?

Answer 11

Presented at Constitution Convention that provided for a national government composed of 3 branches, Congress having 2 houses which would both be based on proportional representation

Question 12

What did the Virginia Plan call for?

Answer 12

• 3 branches, Congress having 2 houses which would both be based on proportional representation
• Based on a federal system (state and national government who got power from the people)
• Favored a strong national government
• National has the power to enforce laws and collect taxes

Question 13

What is the Great Compromise?

Answer 13

• Solution to the problem of representation, combination of New Jersey and Virginia Plan
• Neither New Jersey nor Virginia plan solved the problem of representation

Question 14

What did the Great Compromise say?

Answer 14

• Congress would have 2 houses (Senate and House of Representatives)
• Membership in the House would be proportional, and in the Senate equal representation
• Large states would have a little more influence on taxes and spending, but in the Senate, small states could check the larger states by changing or rejecting taxes and bills

Question 15

What is equal representation?

Argument at convention:

Answer 15

• Idea that each state should have the some number of representatives in Congress
• The number of representatives in Senate is based on equal representation

Small states feared larger states would control the government, so they wanted equal representation

Question 16

What is proportional representation?

Argument and Convention:

Answer 16

The electoral system in which the number of representatives for a state is based on the number of people who live in that state
The number of representatives in the House is based on proportional representation

Large states thought that equal representation was unfair because a state with more people should have more votes, so they wanted proportional representation

Question 17

What is a Tariff?

Answer 17

a tax on good and products imported from other nations, purpose: to protect local buisnesses from outside competition

Question 18

What was the North’s position on tariffs?

What did the Framers think:

Answer 18

The North believed that tariffs were necessary for their businesses to prosper. Tariffs on British products would make them cost more than ones made in America, so Americans would be more likely to buy goods made in their own country

Framers from Northern states wanted to give national government the power to control trade

Question 19

What was the South’s position on tariffs?

what did the Framers think:

Answer 19

The South argued that tariffs would increase the cost of the goods they bought from Europe, and that Britain would place their own tariffs on goods grown in the South making them harder to sell in Europe

Framers from Southern states opposed giving the new government the power to regulate trade

Question 20

What was the solution to tariffs?

Answer 20

Congress has the power to regulate trade and taxes, but to please the south, slave trade couldn’t end until 1808, the 3/5ths clause and the fugitive slave clause