A Nation Built on
Compromise: The
Constitutional Convention
Who Were The Delegates?
The Issues
Compromises
The Constitutional
Convention, 1787
55 delegates attended
but on a typical day
35 were present
29 held college
degrees
34 were lawyers
24 served in the
Continental Congress
21 were military
officers of the
American Revolution
Washington was elected president of the
convention based on his integrity and past
service to the colonies.
The Constitutional
Convention, 1787
Most delegates
considered
themselves as
merchants or slave
owners
Small farmers, free
African-Americans,
women, or Native
Americans are not
present
What does this painting show about the
delegates at the convention?
The Virginia Plan
Proposed a three branch government
– The legislature branch would write the
laws.
– The executive branch would enforce the
laws.
– The judicial branch would interpret the
laws.
The legislative branch would have a bicameral
legislature and representatives would be
based on a states population.
The legislature would appoint the
executive and the judiciary. It would also
settle disputes between states.
The New Jersey Plan (small
states)
The legislature would have a
unicameral house to guard against
large states having to much power.
Each state would have one vote.
This plan sought to stay as close to
the Articles of Confederation as
possible.
What were they thinking?
Alexander Hamilton
proposes that
members of the
executive branch
serve for life
Luther Martin
suggested that states
should be even more
powerful than the
national government
The Architects of
Compromise
Edmund Randolph proposed
the Virginia Plan.
Roger Sherman proposed
the Great Compromise.
The Great Compromise
(Connecticut Plan)
The legislature would be bicameral.
– The Senate would give each state equal
representation.
– The House of Representatives would be
based on state populations.
Terms of office would be outlined.
An electoral college of all
representatives and senators would
choose the president.
Three-Fifths Compromise
Slaves would be
counted toward
political
representation and
would also be counted
when states were
taxed.
The slave trade was
to be allowed for the
next 20 years
The road to debate
On September 17, 1787 39 delegates
sign the U.S. Constitution
It had been done in secret and was a
new written document
Only white property owning males
would have a say in the ratification of
the Constitution.