Constitutional Convention Notes - Flemington-Raritan Regional …€¦ · The Constitutional Convention Begins ... George Washington- Was asked to preside (lead) over the convention

The Constitutional Convention Begins February 1787-Philadelphia

Delegates from all the states were invited to a convention to improve the Articles of Confederation.

Only Rhode Island did not attend

55 Delegates

All the participants in the Convention were wealthy, white, males.

Important People Benjamin Franklin- Was the oldest

delegate at the convention at the age of 81

George Washington- Was asked to preside (lead) over the convention

James Madison- kept notes of the discussions and is often called “The Father of the Constitution”

Thomas Jefferson & John Adams- Both were in Europe and did not attend the convention

ISSUES THAT DIVIDED THE NATION Federal vs State government- Should the federal or the

state government have the majority of the power

Representation- Small states wanted representation in government to equal, while large states wanted it based on population

Slavery- What states should have slavery? Would the slave trade continue?

The Virginia Plan Favored by large states

Gave majority of power to the central or federal government

Three Branches of government- Legislative, executive, and judicial

Bicameral (two house) legislative branch

Representation in the legislative branch would be based on population

The New Jersey Plan Favored by small states

Legislature- has only one house

Each state gets one vote

States had more power under this plan

The Great Compromise

LEGISLATIVE

BRANCH

Lower House:

-House of representatives

Upper House:

-The Senate

Called for the creation on a two-house legislature:

The Great Compromise Lower House Upper House

Lower house know as the House of Representatives would be elected by popular vote

Representation in the lower house would be awarded to each state according to population. (larger states get more reps)

Upper house called the Senate, would be chosen by state legislatures.

Each state no matter the size would have two senators. (small and larger states are treated equal)

ELECTION COMPROMISE President and Senators

Citizens of the country choose these members of the government indirectly

The electoral college was created. Thus the citizens vote for electors who then vote for the president.

State Legislatures picked Senators.

House of Representatives

Members of the House of Representatives were chosen by citizens directly through a popular vote.

Three-Fifths Compromise Southern states said…

Slave population should count towards representation for southern states.

Northern states said… slaves cannot vote or participate in government, they should not give the south more represent

Agreed that three fifths of the slaves in any state would count towards the population.

This greatly benefited

the representation of the southern states in the house of representatives.

Slave Trade Compromise Northern and Southern states agreed

that Congress could not outlaw the slave trade for at least 20 years.

Northerners also agreed that no state could stop a fugitive slave from being returned to an owner who claimed that slave.