Georgia’s Role at the Constitutional Convention The Convention’s intention was to revise the AOC, but they wound up throwing it out altogether They wrote the Constitution of the United States. Georgia appointed six delegates to the Constitutional Convention.

Constitutional Convention Two did not attend Two left early Two stayed and signed Abraham Baldwin William Few

Constitutional Convention Great Compromise: created a bicameral (two-house) legislature where each state had two members in the Senate but representation in the House of Representatives is based on the state’s population. Abraham Baldwin helped develop the Great Compromise Abraham Baldwin: originally from Connecticut; graduated from Yale, served in the U.S. Army during the Revolution. Became a lawyer, moved to Georgia, became a politician Served both as a U.S. Congressman and as a U.S. Senator. Played a major role in the creation of the University of Georgia and served as UGA’s first president. Due to Baldwin’s influence, many of the early building on UGA’s campus were modeled after buildings at his alma mater Yale.

Georgia’s Role at the Constitutional Convention Georgians supported a strong central government. To protect them from a threatened Indian war and from the Spanish who had regained possession of Florida. To ensure that a centralized government would improve trade regulations (Savannah and coastal regions)

Georgia’s Role continued… William Few represented Georgia well by casting important nationalist votes during critical times at the convention. He also worked hard to make sure the U.S. constitution was approved by the Constitutional Congress and by his home state. Few was born in North Carolina then moved to GA. Served in the Revolution and as a state legislator Later moved to New York (where he lived for the rest of his life)and served in the NY legislature. Interestingly, in 1976, to honor the nation’s bicentennial, Few’s remains were moved back to Georgia.

Georgia’s Role continued… Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the U.S. Constitution on January 2, 1788.