CONSTITUTIONAL
CONVENTION
PLANS
/
COMPROMISES
Convention Background
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Purpose- Revise the Articles of
Confederation
Meetings closed to Public
Began May 1787 at Independence Hall,
Philadelphia.
12 out of 13 states (RI did not participate)
55 Total Delegates
Key People
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George Washington- President of the
Convention
James Madison- Author of key parts of the
constitution “Father of the Constitution”
Alexander Hamilton- Voice of James
Madison
Roger Sherman – Great Compromiser
PLANS ON GOV’T STRUCTURE
VIRGINA PLAN : James Madison
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2 House legislature
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Upper House- Based on Pop/Selected by state
legislatures
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Lower House- Based upon Pop/elected by
people.
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Executive- 1 Executive and vice president
selected by states.
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Judicial- One Sup. Court+ Smaller courts as
needed
PLANS FOR GOV’T STRUCTURE
NEW JERSEY PLAN: William Patterson
 One House legislature- 1 vote/state
 Executive – executive council of 3
members
 Judicial- Tribunal of three Justices
CONNECTICUT COMPROMISE
--Roger Sherman
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Two house legislature
Senate (upper) – 2 per state. Selected by
state legislature’s
House (lower) based on populationElected by people
Executive- 1 President/1 vice president
Judicial- One Sup court + lower courts.
3/5 Compromise
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Debate between Southern Slave States
and Northern Free States.
Compromise: 3 out of 5 slaves would
count.
What is the Answer?
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What is the Answer?
End of Convention
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Convention was ended with ¾ majority vote
and the signatures of all delegates that
agreed with the constitution.
Signed on September 17, 1787
Ratification of Constitution now needed.
RATIFICATION
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To become new gov’t ¾ of states had to
agree.
Two groups emerged to speak for and
against the constitution.
The Federalists – supported constitution.
The Anti-Federalists- Against constitution
FEDERALISTS
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Most notable was a set of papers
published called the Federalist Papers.
Written by a group of three people-John Jay, Alexander Hamilton, James
Madison
85 articles were written, each one
explaining why the constitution was the
best way for the US to be governed.
Anti-Federalists.
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Group of people who were against the
federalists.
Wrote a few responses to the Federalist
Papers called the Anti Federalist Papers.
In the end the work of Madison held the
most persuasive arguments.
Main goal was a Bill of Rights
Ratification
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Constitution ratified as our government in
1791.
First state to ratify constitution?
Delaware
PA was second
Last state – Rhode Island
Bill of Rights added in 1791.