The Philadelphia
Convention
Constitutional Convention
Commences on May 25, 1787
The original purpose of the
Constitutional Convention…..
Was to improve the Articles of Confederation
Characteristics of the people who were
there?
• White
• Male
• Younger (Average age was 42). Most of the delegates were
under the age of 50. Oldest delegate was Benjamin Franklin
at 81. The youngest, Jonathan Dayton, was 26
• Educated. They were statesmen (politicians/leaders for their
state), lawyers, bankers, businessmen and planters.
• Most were wealthy
• Revolutionary War Veterans
Important Delegates who were there…
James Madison – kept all the notes at the meeting
George Washington – presided over (lead) the meeting
Ben Franklin – lent his “wit and wisdom” to the meeting
Governor Robert Morris – nominated Washington to lead
*** All the men at the meeting are considered the
“Founding Fathers.”
Important people who were not there…
• Patrick Henry – He was against a strong national
government. He was quoted saying that he “smelled a rat in
Philadelphia, tending toward Monarchy.”
• Thomas Jefferson – He was acting as an ambassador in
France
• John Adams – He was acting as an ambassador in England
Also not represented…
• Native Americans
• African Americans
• Women
Many of our nations early leaders did not consider these
groups of people to be citizens and therefore did not invite
them to the meeting.
Rhode Island
Did not want to attend and did not send delegates.
After the meeting began….
The delegates agreed on 3 things.
1. That the Articles of Confederation were too weak, therefore
they decided to write a NEW CONSTITUTION
2. Keep what happened at the meeting a secret. All windows
were closed, guards were posted outside the door, and
whenever the door opened, the delegates stopped talking.
They did this so they would not be pressured by outside
politics.
3. Give each state 1 vote on all decisions to be made.
5 Basic Ideas about the Government that the
delegates agreed on…
1. The government should have limited powers
2. The purpose of the government is to protect the rights of
the people
3. To have a strong national government to balance out the
states
4. Republican Government where the people elect
representatives
5. Separation of Powers/Checks and Balances to ensure that
no one person or group has too much power.