In this Grade 5 lesson from California myWorld Interactive, Chapter 6, students learn how the Constitutional Convention of 1787 produced a new written plan for government, exploring key concepts such as separation of powers, checks and balances, and the Preamble. Students examine the debates among delegates like James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and Patrick Henry over replacing the Articles of Confederation, including competing proposals such as the Virginia Plan. The lesson also introduces the idea of compromise as essential to creating a government that balanced power between large and small states.
Section 1
The Constitutional Convention
In 1787, leaders from the states gathered for the Constitutional Convention. Their first goal was to fix the country's first government, the Articles of Confederation. This government was very weak and had many problems.
As the delegates debated, many realized that just fixing the Articles would not be enough. They decided to do something much bigger. They would create a completely new plan for a strong national government.
Section 2
The Great Compromise
At the Constitutional Convention, delegates from large and small states argued. Large states wanted representation in the new government to be based on population. Small states worried their voices would be lost if they had fewer representatives.
Two different ideas emerged. The Virginia Plan suggested that states with more people should get more votes. The New Jersey Plan proposed that every state should have an equal number of votes, no matter its size.
Section 3
Limiting Power
The delegates wanted a strong government but also feared it becoming too powerful. They created a system of federalism, where power is shared between the national government and the state governments. This was the first major step to limit authority.
Next, the delegates divided the national government's power into three separate parts. This separation of powers created a legislative branch to make laws, an executive branch to carry them out, and a judicial branch to interpret them.
Expand to review the lesson summary and core properties.
Section 1
The Constitutional Convention
In 1787, leaders from the states gathered for the Constitutional Convention. Their first goal was to fix the country's first government, the Articles of Confederation. This government was very weak and had many problems.
As the delegates debated, many realized that just fixing the Articles would not be enough. They decided to do something much bigger. They would create a completely new plan for a strong national government.
Section 2
The Great Compromise
At the Constitutional Convention, delegates from large and small states argued. Large states wanted representation in the new government to be based on population. Small states worried their voices would be lost if they had fewer representatives.
Two different ideas emerged. The Virginia Plan suggested that states with more people should get more votes. The New Jersey Plan proposed that every state should have an equal number of votes, no matter its size.
Section 3
Limiting Power
The delegates wanted a strong government but also feared it becoming too powerful. They created a system of federalism, where power is shared between the national government and the state governments. This was the first major step to limit authority.
Next, the delegates divided the national government's power into three separate parts. This separation of powers created a legislative branch to make laws, an executive branch to carry them out, and a judicial branch to interpret them.