Constitutional
Convention Worksheet
Question 1
• The Constitutional Convention took place at the State
House in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Question 2
• Which state did not send a representative? Why?
Answer
• Rhode Island did not send a representative because
it was afraid of losing state’s rights.
Question 3
• There were 55 delegates to the Convention. Of these,
39 signed the Constitution, and 3 dissented.
Question 4
• These delegates were selected by their states. They
were educated, patriotic, and experienced men,
ranging from the ages of 40 to 81.
Question 5
• What were some of the jobs the “Founding
Fathers?” What is one job they all had in common?
Answer
• Some men were landowners and some were lawyers
or judges. All delegates held at least one public
office.
True or False?
• Women and minorities were present at the
Constitutional convention.
False
• Women, minorities, and Native Americans were not
present at the Constitutional Convention.
True or False?
• The writers of our Constitution wanted to make sure
that the new nation and its citizens would be free
and independent, and that the government of the
United States would protect the people from a
government that was too powerful and from the
autocratic rule of kings.
True
• True, our Constitution protects the right of individual
citizens.
True or False?
• Because the delegates didn't want the wishes of the
people to be denied by any part of government or by
the power of any single leader, they decided to give
the government the same powers as the Articles of
Confederation.
False
• The statement should read: The delegates didn't
want the wishes of the people to be denied by any
part of government or by the power of any single
leader, but they also knew the government must be
stronger than the one based on the Articles of
Confederation.
Question 7
• Who was the president of the Constitutional
Convention? Why was his job difficult?
Answer
• George Washington was the President of the
Constitutional Convention. His job was difficult
because his job was to keep the meetings orderly
and effective. This was no small task considering the
many different points of view among the delegates.
Question 8
• Delegates to the Constitutional Convention came
from different backgrounds and held different
political views. For example, they argued about
how many representatives each state should be
allowed.
Question 9
• The larger states favored the Virginia Plan.
According to the Virginia Plan, each state would
have a different number of representatives based
on the state’s population.
Question 10
• The smaller states favored the New Jersey Plan.
According to the New Jersey Plan, the number of
representatives would be the same for each state.
Question 11
• A delegate from Connecticut, Roger Sherman,
proposed a two-house legislature, consisting of a
Senate and a House of Representatives.
Question 12
• The Senate would have an equal number of
representatives from each state. This would satisfy
the states with smaller populations.
Question 13
• The House of Representatives would include one
representative for each 30,000 individuals in a state.
This pleased states with larger populations.
Question 14
• This two-house legislature plan worked for all states
and became known as the Great Compromise.
Great Compromise
• A and B. What was the first and last name of the
man who proposed the two-house legislature?
Great Compromise
• Roger Sherman
Great Compromise
• Which legislative body has an equal number of
representatives from each state?
Great Compromise
• The Senate
Great Compromise
• Which states favored the Virginia Plan?
Great Compromise
• The Larger States
Great Compromise
• Which plan was based on equal representation?
Great Compromise
• The New Jersey Plan
Great Compromise
• Which plan was based on population to determine
representation?
Great Compromise
• The Virginia Plan
Wrap Up
• How many delegates were at the Constitutional Convention?
• How was the Constitution’s power different from the Articles of
Confederation?
• Which states favored the Virginia Plan? Why?
• What part of the government was formed from the Virginia
Plan?
• Which states favored the New Jersey Plan? Why?
• What part of the government was formed from the New
Jersey Plan?
• What compromise was made in order to please both sides?