Debating Democracy

This passage describes the debates at the Constitutional Convention about how to elect a president. Some leaders believed Congress should decide, while others wanted people to vote directly. Leaders worried about balancing power between small and large states. The Founding Fathers created the Electoral College as a compromise. This system gave states electors based on both their population and representation in Congress.

Reading this passage teaches students historical vocabulary such as “delegates” and “representation.” It improves comprehension as students follow the sequence of debates and outcomes. The text encourages critical thinking by showing multiple perspectives and how leaders resolved them. Grammar learning happens naturally as students see how ideas are linked with transitions like “however” and “instead.” Working with this passage also builds summarizing skills by identifying key details.