2-4 Creating a Constitution

Why did the new constitution not abolish slavery?

Southern states would have never ratified the constitution.

What was the Connecticut Compromise?

The Connecticut Compromise suggested that the legislative branch have two parts: a House of Representatives (based on each state's populations) and a Senate (with two members from each state).

Why was the bill of rights necessary for ratification of the Constitution by the States?

There was a strong argument by the Anti-Federalists that a bill of rights was necessary to protect individual and states rights from an all powerful federal government so the Federalists promised to add one to the Constitution, thereby appeasing the Anti-Federalists, who then supported ratification.

The group known as the Federalists

favored a strong central government and supported ratification.

The delegates at the Constitutional Convention unanimously chose George Washington to

preside over the convention.

Many Anti-Federalists were swayed by the inclusion of

the Bill of Rights.

A disagreement over how voters would elect the president led to

the Electoral College system.

Explain what the power to regulate interstate commerce means.

It means that Congress has the power to regulate trade between the states.

Why did the Three-Fifths Compromise satisfy states in the North and the South?

The South did not want slaves counted for the purpose of levying taxes but wanted them counted for more representatives in Congress. The North wanted them counted for tax purposes, but not for representation. The Three-Fifths Compromise satisfied both sides, because it said that not all enslaved people would be counted for the purposes of both taxation and representation.

What was the Three-Fifths Compromise?

The Three-Fifths Compromise said that enslaved African Americans only counted as three-fifths of a person for purposes of taxation and representation.

Which elements of the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan were incorporated into the compromise?

The Virginia and New Jersey Plans were incorporated into the compromise by equalizing the power of all states in having a say in the choosing of their representatives. The larger states would have an advantage in the House and the smaller states would be protected in the Senate.

The Constitution went into effect

after nine states ratified it.

Which of the following most directly addressed the issue of slavery?

the Three-Fifths Compromise

The ratification of the Constitution was followed by

the election of the president, senators, and representatives.

One of the major debates at the convention was over

the makeup of the legislative body.

The delegates decided that the new national government should have

three branches.