1. The Constitutional Convention

2. The Convention 55 delegates, half with college education, all white males Washington chosen as president of convention Meetings were kept closed and secretive Each state had one vote, majority won James Madison– researched law and government, “Father of Constitution”

3. Edmund Randolph proposes Virginia Plan, large states like it 1. 2 house legislature– bicameral 2. Chief executive and court system 3. both houses based on states population, more people=more votes Virginia Plan

4. New Jersey Plan William Patterson proposes NJ Plan, small states like it 1. One house legislature- unicameral, with equal votes for all states 2. based on The Articles but with more powers– tax and trade

5. Compromise Delegates chose VA plan but with change in representation Roger Sherman comes up with the Great Compromise: 1. Upper House (Senate)– each state has 2 votes 2. Lower House (House of Reps)– based on states’ population

6. Slavery? Oh yeah… 3/5’s Compromise– slaves count as 3/5 of a person (5 slaves equal 3 people) Northern states want slavery banned Compromise to get southern states to sign is to ignore the issue for 20 years