Key Words:
Convention: an agreement between countries covering particular matters, especially one less formal than a treaty.
Boycott: withdraw from commercial or social relations with (a country, organization, or person) as a punishment or protest.
Population: all the inhabitants of a particular town, area, or country.
Resolution: a firm decision to do or not to do something.
Compromise: an agreement or a settlement of a dispute that is reached by each side making concessions.
Either use the same note document OR create a new document titled: "Constitutional Convention" - and take notes on the important points from this site. When finished type any questions that you have.
On Monday, December 4th you will receive your character to research for our Constitutional Convention starting on 12.11.
The Constitutional Convention is one of the most important meetings in the history of the United States.
The delegates first action was to elect George Washington president of the convention. No man was more admired and respected than the former commander in chief of the Continental Army.
The Delegates
55 delegates from 12 states attended the convention. Rhode Island feared a strong central government and boycotted the meeting.
Some key leaders were missing: John Adams and Thomas Jefferson were representing the United States in Great Britain and France. Sam Adams, John Hancock, and Patrick Henry did not attend fearing a strong national government would endanger the rights of states.
Interesting facts:
Father of the Constitution
James Madison was the most prepared delegate. Madison addressed the convention more than 200 times. When not speaking Madison took notes - he recorded nearly every word spoken at the convention.
His notes covered more than 600 printed pages. From this remarkable record, we know what took place inside the convention day by day.
Rule of Secrecy
At the time, no one outside the convention knew what was happening. The most important rule was secrecy. Delegates wanted to feel free to speak their minds without causing alarm or opposition among the general public.
Delegates took the secrecy of the convention very seriously. Not a single word about the convention debates appeared in any newspaper.
The Issues:
Issue #1: How should states be represented in the new government?
The Virginia Plan called for a strong national government with three branches or parts. The legislative branch, or congress, to make laws. An executive branch who would carry out or execute the laws. And a judicial branch, or court system, that would apply and interpret the laws.
The Congress would be made up of 2 houses. The House of Representatives and the Senate. The number of lawmakers that a state would send to Congress in this plan would depend on population.
Who liked this plan? States with a large population liked this plan. Ex. Virginia, Pennsylvania.
Delegates from small states disliked the Virginia Plan. Right before the vote on the Virginia Plan William Paterson of New Jersey proposed a rival idea.
The New Jersey Plan, like the Virginia Plan, called for a government with 3 branches.
But the legislative house would have only 1 house not 2. And each state would have an equal vote in Congress no matter their population.
This plan would protect the small states from being swallowed up by their larger more populated neighbors.
Resolution to Issue #1: The Great Compromise
Roger Sherman, of Connecticut, helped construct the Great Compromise.
The compromise kept a 2 house Congress. The first house, the House of Representatives, would represent the people. In this house the number of representatives would be based on a state's population.
The 2nd house, the Senate, would represent the states. Each state would have 2 senators, to be elected by their state's legislatures.
This plan saved the convention.
Issue #2: How should slaves be counted?
The key question: how should slaves be counted to determine a state's population? Because population determined the number of seats a state would elect for the House of Representatives this was an important question.
Southerners wanted each slave to count as a person.
Northerners, however, did not see the issue as clearly. If slaves were equal to other people should they have the same rights as other people? Or were they property?
If blacks were equal to people make them citizens and let them vote. If they were property the should be taxed.
Resolution Issue #2: The Three-Fifths Compromise
James Madison proposed a compromise: count each slave as three fifths of a person. This compromise made a mockery of the statement in the Declaration of Independence "all men are created equal."
Issue #3: How should the Chief Executive be elected?
There was a debate if there should be 1 president or 3.
The debate was settled that there would be 1 president but his term would be for 4 years. A vice president would also be elected to fill that term in case the president died.
More troubling was how to elect the president. Should Congress elect the president? Other groups wanted a small group of electors from each state to elect the president.
Resolution Issue #3: The Electoral College
A special body called the Electoral College would elect the president.
The Electoral College is made up of electors who cast votes to elect the president and vice president every 4 years.
The Electoral College Explained: Video
The Convention Ends and ... the work begins
How many states would have to ratify or approve the Constitution before the document could go into effect? The decision was a compromise between the majority and all, they would wait until 9 states approved the Constitution.
38 of the original 55 delegates signed the Constitution on September 17th, 1787.
Role Playing: The Constitutional Convention