1. The Constitutional Convention Pages 35-39
Chapter 2 Section 4
The Constitutional Convention
Pages 35-39

2. Objectives
1. List influential delegates to the Constitutional Convention.
2. Identify the major competing plans of government that the delegates debated.
3. Explain why the delegates compromised on a federal system of government.

3. May 25, 1787-delegates met in Philadelphia to discuss a stronger national government. Many in Philadelphia were honored they were chosen as the site for the meeting. Most states didn’t put much stock in the proceedings in Philadelphia.
Delegates worked for four months and considered all kinds of plans for a government.

4. The Delegates
The delegates were leaders and political thinkers. Eight of the fifty-five delegates signed the Declaration of Independence, seven had participated in the First Continental Congress, and seven had been state governors.
No surprise that most were wealthy and college-educated. Many would progress to be involved in the national government.

5. Washington was named chairperson of the convention
Washington was named chairperson of the convention. His participation in the convention made it creditable.
Some leaders were absent. Thomas Jefferson, was in Europe as a U.S. representative to France. Patrick Henry of Virginia declined to attend the Convention .
Some were suspicious of the delegates, they thought they were creating a strong central government.

6. James Madison, known as the “father of the Constitution
James Madison, known as the “father of the Constitution.” The notes that he took are the main record of the convention.

7. Political Processes
It was not all business for the delegates sent to the various conventions held in Philadelphia between 1774 and Delegates often stayed in the same boardinghouses, and after-work socializing became an important way of getting to know other delegates and their views. Sometimes socializing allowed delegates to pursue personal interests as well. While staying at a boardinghouse in Philadelphia during 1783, James Madison fell in love with and proposed to daughter of New York delegate William Floyd. She declined, and Madison eventually married Dolly Payne Todd.

8. Political Foundations
Alexander Hamilton distrusted the judgment of the ordinary American more than James Madison did. Wanting a government that controlled the passions of the public, Hamilton argued that the federal government should be given almost unlimited powers with a minimum of checks and balances. Furthermore, he proposed that the president and senators be elected for life. Most other delegates complained that Hamilton’s plan was too similar to the British system of government and that Americans would never accept the plan. Consequently, it was not even debated at the Constitutional Convention.

9. The Great Compromise
Small states wanted a government that gave them power equal to the large states. The success of the prospective new government depended on reaching a compromise.
The delegates borrowed different concepts from each of the plans.
The agreement was known as the Connecticut Plan, became the Great Compromise.

10. House of Representatives
House of Representatives: would be based on population. States with larger populations would have more representatives than smaller states.
Members would be elected by the people. This compromise came from the Virginia Plan.

11. Senate The Senate came from the New Jersey Plan.
Each state would have two representatives in the Senate. This would keep the large and smaller states equal in representation.
Senators would be elected by state legislatures. Both the House and the Senate would have to approve legislation by majority votes for it to become law.

12. Settling Other Issues
Slavery: Most delegates opposed slavery, majority realized that a compromise was needed. In regard to the new government the southern states wanted to count the slave population and it would be a deciding factor in participation.
The three-fifths compromise: for southern states three-fifths of the slave population could be counted.
Slavery was not over for the country and would be addressed again later in our country. It would test its citizens’ belief in the natural rights of human beings.

13. Trade: It was decided that Congress could not ban the importation of slaves before Also, Congress could not tax goods that were exported to other countries.
The Presidency: It was decided that the president would be chosen by state electors. State’s electors would match the number of its representatives in both house of Congress. The delegates permitted states to choose electors by popular vote. If no presidential candidate received a majority of electoral votes from the states, the House of Representatives would choose the president.

14. Finalizing the Constitution
August 1787-Convention delegates finished their work on the Constitution.
September 17, 1787-most delegates signed the document. Of those who didn’t sign some had already left to go home or opposed a national government.

15. Activity I will divide you into four groups.
Using information found in the text and the library create resumes for the four delegates to the Constitutional Convention:
George Washington
Benjamin Franklin
Alexander Hamilton
James Madison
In your resumes consider the backgrounds of these delegates, including their education, their wealth, previous experience in government, and what state they are representing.

16. Follow-up
It was difficult to get the delegates to the Constitutional Convention to agree on one plan of government that would please all the states.