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Line 93: − + − Did the attendees limit their actions to fixing the Articles of Confederation? No. This same debate rages today by calls for a constitutional convention to balance the budget (1980s) or protect traditional marriage. There is no way to limit what a constitutional convention does. The only protection for the people is that the document still must be ratified by the states. (This debate over whether a constitutional convention can be called for limited issue continues today, with many saying that there is never a way to limit a constitutional convention.)+ − What the delegates to the Constitutional Convention did was create a written Constitution that has lasted as the oldest written national instrument of government in the world today. Their product is probably the greatest single written document of a collection men ever created in the history of the world.<?>+ − + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
American History Lecture Three (view source)
Revision as of 19:34, August 30, 2008
, 19:34, August 30, 2008no edit summary
==The Constitutional Convention==
==The Constitutional Convention==
The Constitutional Convention convened in the summer of 1787 in Philadelphia to strengthen the national government by modifying the Articles of Confederation. Every state sent representatives except Rhode Island. (Remember Rhode Island – some claim its “separation of church and state” laid the foundation for the Constitution. It didn’t even show up!). The deliberations were held in secret, without any news leaking to the newspapers. Everyone was ordered to destroy their notes afterwards, but James Madison kept his notes and they were released about fifty years later.
The Constitutional Convention convened in the summer of 1787 in Philadelphia to strengthen the national government by modifying the Articles of Confederation. The Convention was immensely important and successful.
Every state sent representatives except Rhode Island. Some sources claim 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!
In total, 55 delegates from twelve states attended the Convention. The highest attendance and participation at the Constitutional Convention came from large states, particularly Virginia, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and South Carolina.
Key participants in the Constitutional Convention: James Madison, George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, Benjamin Franklin. Missing: John Adams, Thomas Jefferson. Adams and Jefferson were overseas in diplomatic missions, Adams to England and Jefferson to France. Remember those alliances: 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, Benjamin Franklin. John Adams and Thomas Jefferson were overseas in diplomatic missions, Adams in England and Jefferson in France. Remember those alliances: Adams (and all of New England) was allied with England, while Jefferson (and much of Virginia) was allied with France.
George Washington reluctantly agreed to attend the convention, and was elected to preside. In another display of his remarkable self-sacrifice, Washington did not speak on the issues, because he felt this would be unsuitable for the chairman.
Benjamin Franklin was the oldest attendee, at 82. He had to be carried to meetings in a chair and wrote out his remarks so that others could speak for him. Nevertheless, his influence on the Convention was invaluable.
James Madison worked tirelessly on the Constitution, and his tenacity earned him the nickname "Father of the Constitution".
The delegates to the Constitutional Convention were bright, dedicated, and spiritual men. This was a very special event.
The delegates to the Constitutional Convention were bright, dedicated, and spiritual men. This was a very special event.
The deliberations were held in secret, without any news leaking to the reporters. This secrecy benefited the Convention because the delegates could proceed freely and try different ideas without fearing that their actions would be misunderstood by the public. Everyone was ordered to destroy their notes after the convention. James Madison, however, kept his and they were released when he died fifty years later. Those notes provide the knowledge we have about the debates that occurred during the Convention.
While most delegates agreed that stronger central government was necessary, they were uncertain how they could accomplish this without too much power. Their fear of the corruption power brings reflects the Christian beginnings of our nation. Christianity teaches that humans are sinful and prone to corruption. Very few religions teach that.
As the Constitutional Convention began, the delegates agreed that the Articles of Confederation had not created a functional government. Congress was in shambles, and so sporadically attended that between October 1785 and April 1786, it had the minimum attendance to business on only three days. The stated purpose of the Constitutional Convention was to "render the federal constitution adequate to the exigencies of Government and the preservation of the Union."
Those words left the Convention somewhat open in purpose. Delegates had a choice. First, they could amend the articles, this would be difficult however because unanimous approval from the states was required. Instead, they could draft a new constitution. Some questioned whether the Convention had authority to do this, but consensus was that a new constitution was the only choice.
Thus, the attendees did not limit their actions to fixing the Articles of Confederation. This same debate rages today by calls for a constitutional convention to balance the budget (1980s) or, more recently, to protect traditional marriage. There is no way to limit what a constitutional convention does. The only protection for the people is that the document still must be ratified by the states. This debate over whether a constitutional convention can be called for limited issue continues today, with many saying that there is never a way to limit a constitutional convention.
Dangers aside, the delegates knew that it was their task to write a new constitution. But what form of government would be sufficiently effective without being corrupted by power? Two plans attempted to answer this question.
The first was submitted by Edmund Randolph and was called the Virginia Plan, or the Large States Plan because it was favored by the larger states. Our three branches of government originated in the Virginia Plan. Unlike the Articles of Confederation, this plan gave government the power to directly enforce laws. Under this plan, Edmund Randolph wouldn't sign in the end.
The resulting Constitution breaks government into three separate branches that can check and balance each other. If one branch grabs too much power, then the other two can work together to stop it.
The resulting Constitution breaks government into three separate branches that can check and balance each other. If one branch grabs too much power, then the other two can work together to stop it.