The Constitutional Convention

The Delegates Gather at Philadelphia

The Constitutional Convention Begins

• In 1787, delegates from around the country gather in Philadelphia

• Their goal for the convention: “for the sole purpose of revising the Articles of Confederation”

Independence Hall, the Meeting Place of the Constitutional

Convention

The Delegates

George Washington Alexander Hamilton

Roger Sherman

James Madison Ben Franklin

The Virginia PlanProposal Description

• Three separate branches

• An executive branch• A legislative branch• A judicial branch

• Two house legislature • An upper house and a lower house• Representation based on population

What's the Problem?

• Some delegates thought the “people” were not involved enough

• Small states hated the plan because larger states would have more representatives in Congress because they have a higher population

• So……now what?

The New Jersey Plan

Proposal Description

• A single house legislature

• Every state has equal representation (one vote)

• Expand the powers of the Congress

• Raise money and regulate trade

The Great Compromise

• The big states and the small states at the convention could not agree on any changes, so… they came to a compromise known as the Great Compromise:– Two house legislature (Bi-cameral)• House of Representatives (Based on

population for the large states)• Senate (Each state has two seats for the

small states)

Three-fifths Compromise

• Free states and slave states could not agree on whether or not slaves counted towards representation

• Slaves states wanted them to count, free states did not want them to count, so…

• Three-fifths Compromise:– Each slave counted as 3/5 of a person

The Slave Trade Compromise

• Northern states wanted the buying and selling of people to stop

• Southern states said that would ruin their economy, so…

• The importation of slaves would stop in 20 years, but the slave trade within the United States would continue