Name __________________
The Constitutional Convention
Gathering of Delegates to Create a New Constitution to Replace the Articles of Confederation
Constitutional Convention Quick Facts:
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President of the Constitutional Convention: George
Washington
Location: The State House (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), known
as Independence Hall
Oldest Delegate: Benjamin Franklin, 81
Youngest Delegate: Jonathan Dayton, 26
Average Age of Delegates: 42
Remains today, the world's oldest written Constitution.
The Constitutional Convention
A stronger central administration was
needed if the nation was going to survive.
Delegates from each state (except Rhode
Island) began arriving in Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania in May 1787. At first, only
Virginia and Pennsylvania were represented.
It took some of the delegates months to
arrive. In fact, the last delegate to arrive
showed up on August 6th!
Over the course of the summer, they discussed many issues. One of these issues dealt with the very
nature of the new government. The states with larger populations favored James Madison's Virginia Plan.
This plan consisted of a strong national government with three branches:
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Executive Branch: Provides leadership and enforces laws.
Legislative Branch: Makes laws for the nation.
Judicial Branch: Explains and interprets laws.
The executive branch was called bicameral (two house) with a Senate and a House of Representatives.
Together, they made up Congress and its memberships would be based upon a state's population.
Madison's plan also gave the national government the power to tax, a power that rested solely within the
states under the Articles of Confederation.
Smaller states were pretty scared about the Virginia plan. If it passed, it would mean that smaller
states would have almost no say in government. The debate over the Virginia Plan grew quite
heated, and finally the small states asked to draw up their own plan, known as the New Jersey
Plan, written by William Paterson of New Jersey. It was also known as the Small State Plan.
This plan mirrored one part of the Virginia Plan in that it called for a national government of three
branches (Executive, Legislative, and Judicial). However, the Legislative Branch would be unicameral
(one house) with each state having only one vote. This way, smaller states had the same power in
the legislature as larger states. The states would maintain the sole power of taxation. In a lot of
ways, the New Jersey was very similar to the government under the Articles of Confederation.
Breakdown of the Two Plans
The Virginia Plan
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Three branches (Executive, Legislative, and
Judicial)
two houses of legislature (bicameral)
both houses of the legislature get
proportional representation (the more
people a state has, the more representatives
it gets in the legislature)
strong national government that could make
and enforce laws, and collect taxes
people would be governed by two
governments - the state and national
larger states favored this plan
The New Jersey Plan
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Three branches (Executive, Legislative, and
Judicial)
one house of legislature (unicameral)
each state has one vote in legislature
states have power of taxation
smaller states favored this plan
Homework: On a separate sheet of paper, create a dialogue (conversation) between two states and
debate which plan – the New Jersey Plan or the Virginia Plan - makes the most sense. In order for the
dialogue to be rich and engaging, you should choose two states that are quite different in size. Feel free
to use personification (give each state human qualities) in order to do this. The states could be married
or out on a date, for example. This could be an ongoing argument between an older brother and a
younger brother. It is up to you.
You will obviously need to read the information above to do this well. This is due on Tuesday, January
18th or Wednesday, January 19th.
Virginia and New Jersey Plans. Researched January 13, 2011.
http://library.thinkquest.org/11572/creation/framing/va_nj_plans.html
Ben's Guide – The Constitution. Researched January 13, 2011.
http://bensguide.gpo.gov/6-8/documents/constitution/background.html
Heroes in America. Researched January 13, 2011.
www.heroesinamerica.org/.../Constitutional_Convention_Lesson_Plan_Web_Version_by_Pavao.pdf
Aspects of the "Great Compromise"
* A bicameral legislature made up of the Senate and the House of Representatives settled the
debate over representation in the national government. Small states feared they would be ignored if
representation was based on population. Large states, however, believed that their larger
populations deserved more of a voice. Under the two house system, each party would be
represented in a balance of power. Each state would be equally represented in the Senate, with two
delegates, while representation in the House of Representatives would be based upon population.
* Commerce and slavery were two issues that divided the colonies between North and South.
Southern states exported goods and raw materials and feared the Northern states would take
unfair advantage. The South finally agreed not to require two-thirds passage in both houses to
regulate commerce. The North agreed that the slave trade could continue until 1808. Slaves would
be taxed at not more than $10 each when brought in. In addition, slaves would be counted as threefifths of a person for representation in the House of Representatives.
* Nationality requirements and provisions for amending and ratifying the Constitution were also
addressed. It was decided that Senators would have to be citizens for nine years, while
Representatives only seven. The President must be native-born. A system was set up whereby
changes, or amendments, could be made to the Constitution. Nine of the 13 states must vote to
ratify the Constitution before it could become law.
The Constitution was finally finished on September 12, 1787 and made public. It did not contain any sort
of Bill of Rights, even though that question had been heavily debated. Of the 42 delegates still present at
the convention when it was finished, 39 signed the Constitution. Only Gov. Edmund Randolph (Virginia),
George Mason (Virginia), and Elbridge Gerry (Massachusetts) declined to sign. Each states was then given
six months to convene and vote on the proposed Constitution.
During these six months, there was much public debate. People in favor of the Constitution were called
Federalists while those opposed were called Anti-Federalists." James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and
John Jay wrote a series of articles in favor of the Constitution that became known as The Federalist
Papers. Some of these articles explained about the system of "checks and balances" in the Constitution
wherein no one branch of government would have more power than the other two. These articles
helped sway public opinion. The Constitution was finally ratified and became legal on June 21, 1788.
Ben's Guide to the U.S. Government. Researched January 13, 2011.
http://bensguide.gpo.gov/6-8/documents/constitution/background.html