Research the history of the American Constitution using the Argosy University online library resources. Respond to one question from each of the question sets A and B.
A. Creating the Constitution
- Consider the three constitutional proposals: the Virginia Plan, the New Jersey Plan, and the Great Compromise, also known as the Connecticut Compromise. If you were a delegate and without the experience of the past 200 years, which constitutional proposal would you have supported? Why?
- Why do you think the framers were silent on the issue of slavery in the wording of the Constitution? What were the strengths and weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation?
- What were the issues in the Constitutional Convention? Who were the Federalists and Anti-Federalists?
B. Living with the Constitution
- What are the formal and informal methods of constitutional change?
- How do checks and balances work in the lawmaking process today? Which current and important events do you think are examples of the success of checks and balances?
- Do you think the Constitution is a relevant political document for the twenty-first century? What new amendments might be appropriate today?
