Section 4 Mr. Gordon

The Constitutional Convention At the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, delegates debated competing plans—the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan—for how the new government should be organized. To finalize the Constitution, delegates compromised on key issues.

Drafting a New Constitution The Convention Meets May 25, 1787: convention gets underway with representatives of 12 of the 13 states Rhode Island, fearing weaker state powers, sent no delegation.

Drafting a New Constitution The Convention Meets Delegates worked to draft the framework for a new government. Meetings were held in strict secrecy without press or public.

Drafting a New Constitution Framers of the Constitution 55 delegates, known as Framers of the Constitution One-third had served in the Continental Army.

Drafting a New Constitution Framers of the Constitution 8 had signed Declaration of Independence George Washington, president of convention James Madison a major influence

Drafting a New Constitution Delegates gathered in Philadelphia to revise the Articles of Confederation, but ended up with an entirely new plan for government.

Rival plans The Virginia Plan (Big States) One of two rival plans for creating a new form of government which emerged at the convention Based on the ideas of James Madison, The Virginia Plan called for a central government divided into three branches— legislative, executive, judicial—each branch with power to check the others.

Rival plans The Virginia Plan Called for strong national government with power to make laws, levy taxes, control interstate commerce, override state laws Called for bicameral legislature with membership based on state’s population; lower house members elected directly by the people; upper house members selected by state legislatures

Rival plans The New Jersey Plan (Small States) Delegates from small states concerned that Virginia Plan gave too much power to large states The New Jersey Plan called for a strong central government made up of three branches, but was designed to stick closer to the Articles of Confederation.

Rival plans Called for unicameral legislature The New Jersey Plan Called for unicameral legislature Each state would have one vote, with equal representation regardless of its population. Despite support from small states, the plan was ultimately rejected at the Convention.

Conflict and Compromise For weeks after the rejection of the New Jersey Plan, the Convention was deadlocked. Tempers flared, and at times it seemed the Convention would fall apart. In the end, a series of compromises saved the Convention.

Conflict and compromise The Great Compromise June 30, 1787: Roger Sherman presented The Connecticut Compromise (The Great Compromise). Elements of both plans Bicameral legislature: lower house number based on state’s population, upper house with two members each Lower house elected directly by the people; upper house selected by state legislatures

Conflict and compromise Compromise Over Slavery Key points: whether slaves should be counted as part of state’s population; whether importation of enslaved people should be allowed to continue Counting slaves would greatly increase population and power of southern states

Conflict and compromise Compromise Over Slavery Three-Fifths Compromise: three-fifths of enslaved people would be counted to determine a state’s population. Compromise on slave trade allowed it to continue protected for the next 20 years

Conflict and Compromise {continued} Presidential Election Some wanted president elected directly by the people; others by the state legislatures or the national legislature Compromise: state electors

Conflict and Compromise {continued} Presidential Election Number of state electors equal to number of representatives in both houses of Congress; chosen by popular vote If no candidate received majority vote, House of Representatives would choose president

Conflict and Compromise {continued} Finalizing the Constitution Debated issues, settled disputes, made key decisions during summer of 1787 Benjamin Franklin said document was as close to perfect as possible, to overlook parts they did not like and “act heartily and unanimously” in signing Constitution

Conflict and Compromise {continued} Finalizing the Constitution Some delegates refused to sign because it did not include a bill of rights. 39 delegates from 12 states signed Constitution Convention adjourned September 17, 1787