Lesson 9: How Was the Philadelphia Convention Organized?
How was the Philadelphia Convention Organized? (Video)
Delegates from governing class of states; rules established; seven states for quorum, address remarks to chair, no reading or side conversations, no second presentations until all had chance to speak, no votes binding until final vote on entire document, rule of secrecy; Madison's notes.
Student Questions: Unit 2, Lesson 9, Sections 1-2 (pdf download)
What were the most prominent elements of the Virginia Plan? (Video)
Virginia Plan - government represents people not states; two house legislature - proportional representation; first house elected by people, second house elected by first house; national executive elected by Congress, congress with power to legislate in areas where state legislatures incompetent, congress power to veto state laws, judicial branch, Council of Revision to review constitutionality of acts of government; form of parliamentary system.
The U.S Constitution: The Constitutional Convention (Video)
A video about the Constitutional Convention.
The Virginia Plan: Strong National Government (Video)
The Virginia Plan focuses on having a strong national government.
"The Americanization of Benjamin Franklin," a lecture by Gordon Wood (Video)
Gordon Wood, the author of "The Americanization of Benjamin Franklin" discusses Franklin's life.
Shaping the New Nation: The Constitutional Convention (Video)
A video about the Constitutional Convention.
Our Constitution: A Conversation (Video)
In this video, Supreme Court justices Sandra Day O'Connor and Stephen Breyer discuss the importance of the Constitution and explain several basic principles of American constitutionalism. They answer student questions about separation of powers, the Court's modern relevance, federalism, liberty versus security, notable cases, decision-making in the Court. The link takes you to Annenberg's Sunnylands Classroom website.
60-Second Civics, Episode 3: George Washington and Ratification of the Constitut (Audio)
George Washington's role during the Constitutional Convention and the debates over ratification.
60-Second Civics, Episode 271: Philadelphia Convention, Part 1: Overview (Audio)
The beginning of a discussion of the Philadelphia Convention.
60-Second Civics, Episode 272: Philadelphia Convention, Part 2: The Framers (Audio)
A discussion about the Framers of the Constitution.
60-Second Civics, Episode 273: Philadelphia Convention, Part 3: Demographics of (Audio)
Continued discussion of the Framers of the Constitution.
60-Second Civics, Episode 274: Philadelphia Convention, Part 4: Max Farrand on t (Audio)
A discussion on Max Farrand's statement about the Framers.
60-Second Civics, Episode 275: Philadelphia Convention, Part 5: George Washingto (Audio)
George Washington and the Constitutional Convention.
60-Second Civics, Episode 276: Philadelphia Convention, Part 6: James Madison (Audio)
James Madison's role in the Philadelphia Convention.
60-Second Civics, Episode 277: Philadelphia Convention, Part 7: Franklin, Hamilt (Audio)
Benjamin Franklin's, Alexander Hamilton's, and James Wilson's participation in the Philadelphia Convention.
60-Second Civics, Episode 278: Philadelphia Convention, Part 8: Morris, Randolph (Audio)
Gouverneur Morris, Edmund Randolph, and Roger Sherman, and their roles at the Philadelphia Convention.
60-Second Civics, Episode 279: Philadelphia Convention, Part 9: Missing Founders (Audio)
A discussion of some of the important Founders who did not attend the Philadelphia Convention.
60-Second Civics, Episode 280: Philadelphia Convention, Part 10: Rhode Island (Audio)
Why Rhode Island refused to send delegates to the Philadelphia Convention.
60-Second Civics, Episode 281: Philadelphia Convention, Part 11: Rules of Debate (Audio)
A discussion of three of the rules adopted for the Philadelphia Convention.
60-Second Civics, Episode 282: Philadelphia Convention, Part 12: Rules of Debate (Audio)
A discussion of four key rules of the Philadelphia Convention.
60-Second Civics, Episode 283: Philadelphia Convention, Part 13: Civil Discourse (Audio)
The importance of civil discourse during the Philadelphia Convention.
60-Second Civics, Episode 284: Philadelphia Convention, Part 14: Secrecy (Audio)
Why the Framers wanted to keep the proceedings of the Philadelphia Convention secret.
60-Second Civics, Episode 285: Philadelphia Convention, Part 15: Committees (Audio)
The four key committees of the Constitutional Convention.
60-Second Civics, Episode 286: Philadelphia Convention, Part 16: Madison and the (Audio)
James Madison's proposal for government: the Virginia Plan.
60-Second Civics, Episode 287: Philadelphia Convention, Part 17: Virginia Plan (Audio)
The strength of the national government under the Virginia Plan.
60-Second Civics, Episode 288: Philadelphia Convention, Part 18: Virginia Plan (Audio)
The Virginia Plan and federalism.
60-Second Civics, Episode 289: Philadelphia Convention, Part 19: Virginia Plan (Audio)
The national legislature under the Virgina Plan.
60-Second Civics, Episode 290: Philadelphia Convention, Part 20: Virginia Plan (Audio)
The powers of Congress under the Virginia Plan.
