The Constitutional Convention and Compromises

The Articles of Confederation wasn’t working and it was obvious that it needed to be changed or totally rewritten. We were not a nation of one but a group of 13 mini-nations run by the states. If we were to survive as a country we would need a stronger national government. By the way another name for a national government is Federal or Central.

Realizing that the Articles of Confederation was due for a change, 55 delegates were sent to Philadelphia during a hot summer in May of These men came from a variety of careers, however most were unique from the other men in the United States…How? Most of them were well educated. At this time only 1 out of 100 people had a college education.

George Washington was chosen to be in charge of the convention. The decision was made to keep the content of the meetings secret until a final decision was made…Why? The delegates wanted to wait until the Constitution was finished and people could fully understand it.

James Madison had spent much of his life studying governments, politics, economics and history. What were three concerns he had in creating a new government? FYI – James Madison wrote the Constitution!

He wanted to create a strong but fair government. He was concerned as to who would lead this new republic. He wanted to ensure the government would protect the citizens from abuses of power. He was also concerned about how to balance the working of the new government in terms of power.

Edmund Randolph came up with the Virginia Plan. Surprise he was from Virginia.

The Virginia Plan Called for a two house legislature (Bicameral legislature) The chief executive was to be chosen by the Legislature. Called for a national court system. Citizens would elect the lower house and then the lower house would elect the upper house. Each state would send representatives based on the states population. The more a state had in population, the more people they would send to the Legislature. This is called Proportional Representation and it favored the big states.

William Patterson and many others from small states didn’t like the plan so he introduced his own plan…The New Jersey Plan This plan would change the Articles of Confederation

The New Jersey Plan It was to modify the Articles of Confederation and have only a one house legislature (unicameral legislature). Called for Equal Representation which said that each state would get the same amount or number of representatives to send to the Legislature. This favored the small states

Eventually the delegates (people sent to the convention) decided that the Articles of Confederation had to be thrown out and a new constitution would be created. One of the new things created came out of the Virginia and New Jersey Plans was….

The Great Compromise (aka The Connecticut Plan) A two house legislature –The House of Representatives: A lower house based on the states population. –The Senate: An upper house where each state gets two representatives.

The Great Compromise had to deal with how we should count our population in order to have more people in the House of Representatives. The Southern states wanted to count the slaves…they would then get more representatives and then they could make laws that favored them. The Northern states only wanted them (slaves) to be counted for taxes…either way…no matter how the slaves were to be used, they were not to be considered citizens and did not have the right to vote. Once again, after many disagreements a compromise had to be reached.

The 3/5 ths Compromise Slaves were counted in the population but only as 3/5 ths of a person. Slaves were counted for the usage in taxes and in population…now slave holding states could get more people in the House of Representatives (H. of R., House or House of Reps)

Another compromise took place in dealing with the slave trade. The final agreement said that Congress could not interfere with the slave trade for 20 years

One ultimate fear of a powerful federal government was the rights of citizens would be controlled or not even given to them. Some felt a bill of rights was needed. On September 17, 1787 the hot summer was ending and the delegates finished their tasks…except three delegates refused to sign it – Elbridge Gerry, Edmund Randolf and George Mason because the new constitution did not contain a Bill of Rights. In order to ratify (approve) this new government 9 of the 13 states needed to support it…HMMM…Would it happen?

The Ratification Debate

Federalists Antifederalists James Madison, George Washington, Ben Franklin, Alexander Hamilton and John Jay In favor of the new Constitution Anonymously wrote the Federalist Papers to gain support Were better organized Had on their side many great leaders who were well respected Said that you needed a strong central government to keep control Richard Henry Lee, Sam Adams and Patrick Henry. Against the new Constitution Afraid that the new government could take away freedoms they had fought England for The new Constitution ignored that states and people. Scared that it would favor the wealthy Felt that the common people need rights There was a fear of one group with all the power

After much debate and controversy all thirteen states agreed (ratified) the Constitution once a Bill of Rights was added to it. These were a series of ten amendments (changes or additions). Wow we had a government with a strong federal government. Would we survive? What made up this new government that would be an example for other countries desiring equal rights and freedoms? Would a republic/democracy work? Stay tuned and find out!