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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.

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!

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.

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 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.

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.

[[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.

[[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".

[[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.

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.

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.  The Virginia land assigned delegates to both houses of Congress based on a state's population.  The Virginia plan contributed much to the finished Constitution, although Edmund Randolph refused to sign it in the end.

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.  The Virginia land assigned delegates to both houses of Congress based on a state's population.  The Virginia plan contributed much to the finished Constitution, although Edmund Randolph refused to sign it in the end.

The New Jersey Plan departed much 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 that small ones because representation in Congress was based on population.

The [[New Jersey Plan]] departed much 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 that small ones because representation in Congress was based on population.

This issue may have been the greatest in the Convention, and 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?"  Benjamin Franklin's greatest contribution to the Convention was not his ideas, but his wise advice.

This issue may have been the greatest in the Convention, and 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?"  Benjamin Franklin's greatest contribution to the Convention was not his ideas, but his wise advice.

Franklin's word had an impact when after many weeks of argument, a compromise was reached.  It was called the Great Compromise or the Connecticut Compromise, and resolved that Congress would have one house with equal representation and one house with representation based on population.  This compromise became part of the Constitution, and today we have both Senate and the House of Representatives.

Franklin's word had an impact when after many weeks of argument, a compromise was reached.  It was called the Great Compromise or the [[Connecticut Compromise]], and resolved that Congress would have one house with equal representation and one house with representation based on population.  This compromise became part of the Constitution, and today we have both Senate and the House of Representatives.

This compromise reflected the spirit of the Constitutional Convention.  Disagreements arose on a myriad of issues.  Again and again, the delegates compromised, gradually formulating the Constitution that we still use today.

This compromise reflected the spirit of the Constitutional Convention.  Disagreements arose on a myriad of issues.  Again and again, the delegates compromised, gradually formulating the Constitution that we still use today.