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Constitutional Convention (view source)
Revision as of 00:34, March 31, 2007
, 00:34, March 31, 2007no edit summary
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The '''Constitutional Convention''' was held in the summer of 1787 in [[Philadelphia]], [[Pennsylvania]] to discuss problems with the [[Articles of Confederation]]. [[Benjamin Franklin]], [[James Madison]], [[John Jay]], [[Alexander Hamilton]], [[George Washington]], [[George Mason]], and other elite statesmen attended the conference. Absent were [[John Hancock]], [[Thomas Jefferson]], [[John Adams]], and [[Patrick Henry]].
Rather than revise the current Articles, Madison promptly declared that any confederacy was doomed to failure. Convincing the other delegates to start anew, under Madison's leadership they created the [[Constitution]].
==Conflicts==
===Representation===
====[[Virginia Plan]]====
The Virginia Plan proposed representation by population, a bicameral legislature, and a new Constitution. The larger states supported this plan.
====[[New Jersey Plan]]====
The New Jersey Plan proposed a unicameral legislature with one vote per state, and a simple revision of the Articles. The smaller states supported this plan, as it gave them more power.
====[[Connecticut Compromise]]====
Also known as the Great Compromise, this established a bicameral legislature ([[Congress]]). The upper house ([[Senate]]) was to contain two votes per state, with [[Senators]] chosen by state legislatures. The lower house ([[House of Representatives]]) was based on population, with representatives chosen by the people. The Great Compromise also called for the Articles to be completely replaced.
===National vs State Government===
====Nationalists====
These delegates, notably Hamilton, wished to see most power in a central government.
====State's Rightists====
The State's Rightists wished the power to be with the states. Mason was one of these.
====Solution====
[[Federalism]] was adopted, which provided a supreme national government that shares power with soverign states.
===Counting of Slaves for Representation and Taxation===
====Northern States====
Wished to count slaves for taxation purposes, but not representation purposes.
====Southern States====
Wished to count slaves for representation purposes, but not taxation purposes.
====[[Three-Fifths Compromise]]====
Counted slaves as 3/5 of a person for both taxation and representation.
===Other Compromises===
Electoral College, Judicial Power