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| | ==The Constitutional Convention== | | ==The Constitutional Convention== |
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| − | Economic concerns sparked the first serious call for a national convention to improve the Articles of Confederation. In September 1786, nine (9) states accepted Virginia's call for a national convention on the issue of interstate commerce, which was trade between the states. Under the Articles of Confederation, each state could impose taxes ("tariffs") on goods or merchandise shipped to it from another state, and these "tariff wars" disrupted the free market and impeded economic progress. Only five (5) states attended this "Annapolis Convention," so it was a failure. But it did something that proved to be historic: it called for another constitutional convention to be held in Philadelphia. | + | Economic concerns sparked the first serious call for a national convention to improve the Articles of Confederation. In September 1786, nine (9) states accepted Virginia's call for a national convention (the "Annapolis Convention") on the issue of interstate commerce, which was trade between the states. Under the Articles of Confederation, each state could impose taxes ("tariffs") on goods or merchandise shipped to it from another state, and these "tariff wars" disrupted the free market and impeded economic progress. Only five (5) states attended this Annapolis Convention, so it was a failure. But it did something that proved to be historic: it called for another constitutional convention to be held in Philadelphia. |
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| − | The next convention -- the famous "Constitutional Convention" -- convened in the summer of 1787 (May through September) in Philadelphia to strengthen the national government by modifying the Articles of Confederation. Notice that its original goal was to fix the Articles of Confederation, not to replace them, but once at the convention the [[Founding Fathers]] decided to replace the Articles altogether. '''''This Convention became one of the most important events in the entire history of mankind.''''' | + | The next convention -- the famous "Constitutional Convention" -- convened in the summer of 1787 (May through September) in Philadelphia to strengthen the national government by modifying the Articles of Confederation. Notice that its original goal was to fix the Articles of Confederation, not to replace them, but once at the convention the [[Founding Fathers]] (or "Framers") decided to replace the Articles altogether. '''''This Convention became one of the most important events in the entire history of mankind.''''' |
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| | Every state sent representatives except Rhode Island. Some pretend that Rhode Island's "[[separation of church and state]]" laid the foundation of the Constitution, but Rhode Island didn't even show up at the Constitutional Convention! | | Every state sent representatives except Rhode Island. Some pretend that Rhode Island's "[[separation of church and state]]" laid the foundation of the Constitution, but Rhode Island didn't even show up at the Constitutional Convention! |
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| − | In total, 55 delegates attended from twelve states. The highest attendance and participation at the Constitutional Convention came from large states, particularly Virginia, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and South Carolina. | + | In total, 55 delegates attended from twelve states. The highest attendance and participation at the Constitutional Convention came from large states, particularly Virginia and Pennsylvania. Attendance was also high from Connecticut and South Carolina. |
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| | Key participants in the Constitutional Convention were James Madison, George Washington, [[Alexander Hamilton]] and Benjamin Franklin. [[John Adams]] and [[Thomas Jefferson]] did not attend because they were overseas in diplomatic missions; Adams was in England and Jefferson was in France. Remember the alliances suggested by their diplomatic efforts: Adams (and all of New England) was allied with England, while Jefferson (and much of Virginia) was allied with France. | | Key participants in the Constitutional Convention were James Madison, George Washington, [[Alexander Hamilton]] and Benjamin Franklin. [[John Adams]] and [[Thomas Jefferson]] did not attend because they were overseas in diplomatic missions; Adams was in England and Jefferson was in France. Remember the alliances suggested by their diplomatic efforts: Adams (and all of New England) was allied with England, while Jefferson (and much of Virginia) was allied with France. |