The Constitutional Convention, 1787
Independence Hall
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
DELEGATES TO THE CONVENTION
Opening day- May 25, 1787
Purpose- to revise the Articles of Confederation
Number of delegates- 55
President of the Convention- George Washington
Known as the “Father of the Constitution”- James Madison
Debating at the Convention was done in secret.
TWO RIVAL PLANS
Delegates decided to write an entirely new constitution.
Big and Small States Compromise:
Argument: How to structure representation in the Legislative Branch?
Plan #1:
Virginia Plan
Proposed by:
& James
SOUTH
NORTH
Plan #2:
New Jersey Plan
Proposed by:
Edmund Randolph
North and South Compromises:
Most serious disagreements over slavery.
Argument #1- Would slaves be counted as part of the state’s population?
William Patterson
South said: YES- Count all
slaves.
Why? It would give the South
more votes in the House of
Representatives
North said: NO Can’t count
slaves because they don’t
vote.
Madison
Legislative Branch would
have 2 houses.
Number of
representatives of each
state would be
determined by
population
BIGGER States
Legislative Branch would have
1 house.
Stronger
national
state would have equal
government Each
representation.
with 3
(1 state = 1 vote)
branches
SMALL States
(do not like Virginia Plan because
they would always be outvoted
by bigger states.
COMPROMISE:
Count 3/5 of the slaves.
3/5 COMPROMISE
Argument #2 – Would the slave trade continue to bring enslaved Africans into
the United States?
NORTH
THE GREAT COMPROMISE
Proposed by:Roger Sherman
3 Branches – with Legislative Branch having 2 houses.
Lower House called House of Representatives
Elected by popular vote.
Seats awarded to each state according to population.
Appealed to bigger states.
Upper House called Senate
Chosen by state legislatures
Each state has 2 senators
Appealed to smaller states.
North said: Ban slave trade
SOUTH
South said: Continue to bring
in slaves because their
_economy_ depended on it.
COMPROMISE:
Slave trade continue for 20 years.
After that Congress would regulate.
Fugitive slaves should be returned.
SLAVE TRADE COMPROMISE