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Early in the convention, [[Edmund Randolph]] proposed the [[Virginia Plan]] for national government, or the "Large States Plan," because it was favored by the larger states.  Our three branches of government -- legislative, executive, and judicial -- originated in the Virginia Plan.  Unlike the Articles of Confederation, this plan gave government the power to directly enforce laws.  The Virginia Plan assigned delegates to both houses of Congress (a "bicameral" legislature) based on a state's population, and the legislature selected the chief executive (president) and the judges under this Plan.  The Virginia Plan contributed much to the finished Constitution, although Edmund Randolph himself refused to sign it in the end.

Early in the convention, [[Edmund Randolph]] proposed the [[Virginia Plan]] for national government, or the "Large States Plan," because it was favored by the larger states.  Our three branches of government -- legislative, executive, and judicial -- originated in the Virginia Plan.  Unlike the Articles of Confederation, this plan gave government the power to directly enforce laws.  The Virginia Plan assigned delegates to both houses of Congress (a "bicameral" legislature) based on a state's population, and the legislature selected the chief executive (president) and the judges under this Plan.  The Virginia Plan contributed much to the finished Constitution, although Edmund Randolph himself refused to sign it in the end.

In June 1787, William Paterson next proposed the [[New Jersey Plan]], which was more favorable to the small states and which departed less from the Articles of Confederation.  This plan was favored by small states because each state was represented equally in Congress.  This allowed small states to have an equal amount of power.  The Virginia plan, in contrast, would have allowed large states much more power than small ones because representation in Congress was based on population under the Virginia plan.

In June 1787, William Paterson next proposed the [[New Jersey Plan]], which was more favorable to the small states and which departed less from the Articles of Confederation.  This plan was favored by small states because each state was represented equally in Congress.  This allowed small states to have an equal amount of power.  The Virginia plan, in contrast, would have allowed large states much more power than small ones because representation in Congress would be based on population.

This conflict between the big and small states was the most difficult to resolve in the entire Convention.  For weeks there was no progress.  Then Benjamin Franklin proposed that each day be opened by prayer.  He said, "In the beginning of the Contest with Great Britain when we were sensible of danger we had daily prayer in this room for the divine protection. - Our prayers, Sir, were heard, and they were graciously answered.... And have we now forgotten that powerful friend?  or do we imagine that we no longer need His assistance?  I have lived, Sir a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth - that God Governs in the affairs of men.  And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probably that an empire can rise without His aid?"  In response to Benjamin Franklin's suggestion, the delegates felt a minister was needed to say a proper prayer, but they could not afford to hire one!

This conflict between the big and small states was the most difficult to resolve in the entire Convention.  For weeks there was no progress.  Then Benjamin Franklin proposed that each day be opened by prayer.  He said, "In the beginning of the Contest with Great Britain when we were sensible of danger we had daily prayer in this room for the divine protection. - Our prayers, Sir, were heard, and they were graciously answered.... And have we now forgotten that powerful friend?  or do we imagine that we no longer need His assistance?  I have lived, Sir a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth - that God Governs in the affairs of men.  And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probably that an empire can rise without His aid?"  In response to Benjamin Franklin's suggestion, the delegates felt a minister was needed to say a proper prayer, but they could not afford to hire one!

Although the rules of the Constitutional Convention required that everyone destroy their notes, such that only the Constitution itself was supposed to survive, some of the notes kept by participants were not destroyed and are used today to interpret the Constitution.  Most notably, James Madison preserved his very detailed notes which he took during the proceeding, and they were published after his death decades later.  Because of James Madison's detailed notes about the proceeding at the Constitutional Convention and his participation in writing some of the ''Federalist Papers'' (see below), he is sometimes called the "Father of the Constitution," but Madison's influence over the Constitution was no greater than that of many other Framers.  Many of Madison's suggestions at the Convention were actually rejected by the group, rather than accepted.

Although the rules of the Constitutional Convention required that everyone destroy their notes, such that only the Constitution itself was supposed to survive, some of the notes kept by participants were not destroyed and are used today to interpret the Constitution.  Most notably, James Madison preserved his very detailed notes which he took during the proceeding, and they were published after his death decades later.  Because of James Madison's detailed notes about the proceeding at the Constitutional Convention and his participation in writing some of the ''Federalist Papers'' (see below), he is sometimes called the "Father of the Constitution," but Madison's influence over the Constitution was no greater than that of many other Framers.  Many of Madison's suggestions at the Convention were actually rejected by the group, rather than accepted.

The surviving records of the debates and internal proceedings of the Constitutional Convention are freely available today on the internet.<ref>http://press-pubs.uchicago.edu/founders/tocs/toc.html</ref>  They should be used (even bookmarked) in order to complete some of the homework assignments in this course.

The surviving records of the debates and internal proceedings of the Constitutional Convention are freely available today on the internet.<ref>http://press-pubs.uchicago.edu/founders/tocs/toc.html</ref>  They should be used and even bookmarked.

== The ''Federalist Papers'' ==

== The ''Federalist Papers'' ==

The full text of the Federalist Papers are available online for free, at many websites.<ref>http://www.constitution.org/fed/federa00.htm</ref>

The full text of the Federalist Papers are available online for free, at many websites.<ref>http://www.constitution.org/fed/federa00.htm</ref>

There were also so-called "Anti-Federalist Papers," which opposed ratification of the U.S. Constitution.  The most prominent among the Founders who opposed the U.S. Constitution were Patrick Henry, George Mason, and George Clinton.<ref>http://www.thefederalistpapers.org/anti-federalist-papers</ref> They and others wrote anti-Constitution articles that are almost irrelevant today, because the U.S. Constitution was ratified and became so very successful.

There were also so-called "Anti-Federalist Papers," which opposed ratification of the U.S. Constitution.  The most prominent among the Founders who opposed the U.S. Constitution were Patrick Henry, George Mason, and George Clinton.<ref>http://www.thefederalistpapers.org/anti-federalist-papers</ref>

== Resources ==

== Resources ==