U.S. History Lesson: The GREAT Compromise Cartoon

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The Great Compromise Cartoon is a lesson that allows for some student creativity. It is a cartoon completed the old school way with paper and pencil. There may be some other options to create free animations on-line.

Objective: To learn about the GREAT COMPROMISE and understand the Virginia and New Jersey plans for the creation of the Constitution.
Part #1: Character Creation
Fold the paper in half the hamburger way. There is ONE PLAN per side.

Character Creation (Top half): Character creation and important facts of each plan. Each students will create a cartoon character that represents each plan. Students can use an atlas to incorporate the state’s shape into the character. (If a student elects to create another cartoon, a teacher may allow exceptions to encourage creativity.)

Important Facts (Bottom half): Students will use the textbook or research in the internet the main points of each plan.

Assessment: A teacher can create value based on the characters and quality of facts included.

Part #2: the Great Compromise Cartoon

Students will create an 8 frame cartoon that will include the following.

Use the following order for you cartoon:

1. Use your book to draw a detailed picture of Independence Hall (150). At the top in bold write the phrase “TO DE CIDE FOREVER!” (remember this is the goal of the Constitutional Convention.
2. Virginia Plan: Include a big image of you character OR a picture that illustrates some of the important points of the plan. Caption of the main points.
3. New Jersey Plan: Include a big image of you character OR a picture that illustrates some of the important points of the plan. Caption of the main point
4. THE FIGHT: Be creative. Show a fight between the 2 main characters.
5. The GREAT Compromise: Draw a frame that shows the compromise that lead to the creation of our bicameral Congress.
6. North Slavery: Draw a visual that illustrates the North’s position on slavery.
7. South Slavery: Draw a visual that illustrates the South’s position on slavery.
8. 3/5th compromise: Include a visual of the 3/5ths compromise.

Each frame should have a caption!
It is a great activity to allow for the students to learn the material while at the same time being creative.