Constitutional Convention
34
description
Notes 5: Constitutional Convention
Transcript of Constitutional Convention
Delegates appointed to the convention
74
Attended the meetings regularly
55
Signed the document
39
Refused to sign the document
3
Average age of those in attendance
42
Years: Age of the youngest delegate, Jonathan Dayton
27
Years: Age of the oldest delegate, Benjamin
Franklin
81
George Washington
James Madison
Alexander Hamilton
George Mason
Benjamin Franklin
Thomas Jefferson
John Adams
Patrick Henry
Charles Norris
When?
May 25—September 17, 1787
Where?
Independence Hall; Philadelphia, PA
Where?
Independence Hall; Philadelphia, PA
Why?
The Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation
Why?
Major Points of Debate
• POWERS OF THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT/STATE GOVERNMENTS
• LEGISLATIVE: Representation? Who elects?
• EXECUTIVE: Number? Term length? Who elects?
• JUDICIARY: How are courts created?
• SLAVERY: Existence and representation?
• A BILL OF RIGHTS?
Virginia Plan
Presented by Edmund Randolph May 29; conceived by James Madison, “the Father
of the Constitution”
Virginia Plan
LEGISLATIVE EXECUTIVE JUDICIAL
COUNCIL OF REVISION
Supreme Tribunals
Elected by the people
Proportional representation
based on population/tax
Elected by state
legislatures
Elects
Establishes
Inferior Courts
VETO
HO
US
E
SE
NA
TE
New Jersey Plan
Presented by William Paterson on June 13
New Jersey Plan
LEGISLATIVE EXECUTIVE JUDICIAL
Supreme Tribunals
Equal representation; vote as a state
Elected by state
legislatures
Elects Establishes
Inferior Courts
HO
US
E
• Revision of the Articles
• Empowers government to regulate commerce and collect revenue
Multiple people
Hamilton’s Plan
Britain?
The British government is the best in the world.
Dear George,
…People are now willing to accept something not very remote from that which they have lately quitted…
The Great Compromise (Connecticut Compromise)
Presented by Roger Sherman on July 5
Equal representation
The Great Compromise
LEGISLATIVE EXECUTIVE JUDICIAL
Supreme Court
Elected by the people
Proportional representation
based on population (65)
Elected by state
legislatures
Establishes
Inferior Courts
JUDICIAL REVIEW
HO
US
E
SE
NA
TE
Appoints
Elected by Electoral College
“A bundle of compromises”
• Representation in Congress
• Three-fifths compromise
• 4-year term for President
• Judicial appointment, Senate approval of justices
Ratification
Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists
• 9 out of 13 states needed to ratify
• Two groups emerge
• Federalists—for the ratification of the US Constitution; Anti-Federalists—opposed to its ratification
Arguments: The Anti-Federalists
Leading Anti-Federalists: Edmund Randolph, Patrick Henry, George Mason; leading state politicians
Why?
• States would lose sovereignty
• Too much Presidential power—monarchy, aristocracy
• Republic: untested; US is too big
• No Bill of Rights
Arguments: Federalist Defense
Leading Federalists: Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay…write The Federalist Papers under the name Publius
• A defense of the republican form of government over (direct) democracy
Victory in defeat for the Anti-Federalists
Bill of Rights—first order of business for the new government; passed in 1791
