Lesson 10: Why Was Representation a Major Issue at the Philadelphia Convention?
What were the disagreements about representation at the Philadelphia Convention? (Video)
Representation a central issue of the Philadelphia Convention - should government represent the states or the people? Equal representation vs. proportional representation; if proportional, which people would be represented in Congress?
Student Questions: Unit 2, Lesson 10, Sections 1-5 (pdf download)
What were the most prominent elements of the New Jersey Plan and Alexander Hamilton (Video)
New Jersey Plan - minor strengthening of Articles, one vote per state, government represents states not people, stronger powers for central government (enforcement of taxation), tax based on population three-fifths formula.
Alexander Hamilton's Plan - strong central government, two house legislature, executive and judiciary (similar to British government under colonial system)
Madison's response to critics of the Virginia Plan.
What was the Great Compromise and what were Madison's objections to it? (Video)
The Great Compromise - proportional representation in the House and equal representation in the Senate; Madison claims the Senate violates the principle of majority rule and the idea that the national government is supposed to represent the people, not the states. Thus, the compromise undermines the foundational principle of the Virginia Plan.
What was the significance of the Three-Fifths Compromise? (Video)
Issue of which people should be counted when determining representation in Congress; opponents of slavery do not want them counted to determine the number of representatives a state can send to Congress and proponents of slavery want them counted; representation and taxation implications; source of three-fifths formula; consequences of Compromise.
What concerns were raised over the admission of new states to the Union? (Video)
Issue of representation of new states; establishment of census; Constitutional provision for admitting new states to the Union.
Causes of War: The Three-Fifths Compromise (Video)
A video about the Three-Fifths Compromise.
Three Fifths Compromise (Video)
A video explaining the three-fifths clause and its significance.
Constitutional Convention (Video)
A video that depicts the discussions at the Philadelphia Convention in 1787.
60-Second Civics, Episode 291: Philadelphia Convention, Part 21: Virginia Plan (Audio)
The Virginia Plan's proposal to create a two-house Congress.
60-Second Civics, Episode 292: Philadelphia Convention, Part 22: Virginia Plan (Audio)
A discussion on disagreements about representation.
60-Second Civics, Episode 293: Philadelphia Convention, Part 23: Virginia Plan (Audio)
The preference of some delegates at the Philadelphia Convention for equal representation of the states.
60-Second Civics, Episode 294: Philadelphia Convention, Part 24: Crisis Over Rep (Audio)
The crisis over representation at the Philadelphia Convention.
60-Second Civics, Episode 295: Philadelphia Convention, Part 25: New Jersey Plan (Audio)
The beginning of a discussion of the New Jersey Plan.
60-Second Civics, Episode 296: Philadelphia Convention, Part 26: New Jersey Plan (Audio)
The powers of Congress under the New Jersey Plan.
60-Second Civics, Episode 297: Philadelphia Convention, Part 27: New Jersey Plan (Audio)
How the New Jersey Plan was meant to reform the Articles of Confederation.
60-Second Civics, Episode 298: Philadelphia Convention, Part 28: New Jersey Plan (Audio)
How the rejection of the New Jersey Plan threatened the Constitutional Convention.
60-Second Civics, Episode 299: Philadelphia Convention, Part 29: New Jersey Plan (Audio)
The delegates' plan to save the Philadelphia Convention.
60-Second Civics, Episode 300: Philadelphia Convention, Part 30: Great Compromis (Audio)
The first steps taken toward the Great Compromise at the Philadelphia Convention.
60-Second Civics, Episode 301: Philadelphia Convention, Part 31: Great Compromis (Audio)
The gains and losses on both sides in the Great Compromise.
60-Second Civics, Episode 302: Philadelphia Convention, Part 32: Great Compromis (Audio)
Opposition to the Great Compromise led to a crisis at the Convention.
60-Second Civics, Episode 303: Philadelphia Convention, Part 33: Madison and the (Audio)
James Madison's opposition to the Great Compromise.
60-Second Civics, Episode 304: Philadelphia Convention, Part 34: Introduction to (Audio)
The debate that led to the Three-Fifths Compromise.
60-Second Civics, Episode 305: Philadelphia Convention, Part 35: Three-Fifths Co (Audio)
The Southern position in the debate over proportional representation.
60-Second Civics, Episode 306: Philadelphia Convention, Part 36: Three-Fifths Co (Audio)
The Northern position in the debate over proportional representation.
60-Second Civics, Episode 307: Philadelphia Convention, Part 37: Three-Fifths Co (Audio)
The conclusion to an examination of the Three-Fifths Compromise.
60-Second Civics, Episode 308: Philadelphia Convention, Part 38: Balance of Powe (Audio)
The delegates address the representation of new states.
60-Second Civics, Episode 309: Philadelphia Convention, Part 39: New States and (Audio)
The delegates address the admission of new states.
