The Critical Period: America in the 1780s Constitutional Convention Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 1787

Constitutional Convention The Goal: to revise the Articles of Confederation As the delegates began to discuss the revision they realized that they needed to focus on more sweeping changes. The U.S.A. needed a new Constitution.

Constitutional Convention Lasted from May to September 1787 The Convention convened on May 25, 1787, at the State House (now Independence Hall) in Philadelphia. It opened several days later than planned due to the slow arrival of some delegates.

Constitutional Convention All of the states were represented except for Rhode Island, which declined to attend. George Washington, noted for his patience and fairness, was selected as the presiding officer. In all, 55 delegates attended during the course of the meeting

Assembly Room, Pennsylvania State House, later named Independence Hall, meeting place of Congress. The Declaration of Independence, Articles of Confederation, and the U.S. Constitution were signed in Independence Hall.

Constitutional Convention In all, 55 delegates attended during the course of the meeting The delegates were largely lawyers, merchants and planters who represented their personal and regional interests. Eight (8) had signed the Declaration of Independence and 25 were slave owners.

Constitutional Convention Representation - should the number of legislators be equal for all states or should the larger states have more representatives?

Constitutional Convention Discussion turned to two competing concepts of how a new government should be formed: The Virginia Plan vs. The New Jersey Plan

Constitutional Convention Virginia Plan: The Large State Plan The interests of the larger states were given an airing when Edmund Randolph presented to the Convention a series of proposals, which came to be known as the Virginia Plan Representation was to be based on population of the state. Large states would be given more power in the national legislature.

Constitutional Convention The New Jersey Plan: The Small State Plan Representation was to be based equally amongst the states. All states would have an equal number of votes in the national legislature.

Constitutional Convention “The Great Compromise” Created a bicameral legislature consisting of a Senate (representation is equal) and a House of Representatives (representation is based on population) (bicameral means: “two bodied”)

Constitutional Convention “The 3/5th’s Compromise” Slavery - should the number of slaves in a state be used to compute its representation? The Great Compromise angered some Southerners because these states had small populations of whites. The South asks that slaves count as people for census purposes, though they have no rights or ability to vote. 

Constitutional Convention A possible break up of the Union is avoided by 3/5ths Compromise, which said that each slave is to be counted as 3/5ths of a person (for population counting purposes only.) Every five slaves would count as 3 whites for census purposes only.

Constitutional Convention “The Presidency Compromise” Nearly all agreed on the need for a president to serve as a central figure. The disagreement arose over the power and service of such an office. Some delegates, fearing the rise of king-like president advocated for a weak official, who would be limited to a single one-year term.

Constitutional Convention “The Presidency Compromise” Others argued the need for a powerful figure who would be elected, but serve for life. Debates also raged about how best to elect the president and what role the people of the nation should serve in his selection.