the constitutional convention
Introduction
Meeting in Philadelphia in May 1787, 55 delegates to the Constitutional Convention planned to amend (change) the Articles of Confederation that then controlled the U.S. government. The articles had proven ineffective, leaving the federal government without enough power to enforce laws at home or negotiate successfully abroad. The delegates quickly decided to scrap the articles—which could only be amended with the unanimous consent of the states—as a failed document. Thus, the convention unexpectedly became a planning and debate session for an entirely new document that would revise the structure of the budding nation's government. They chose George Washington as president of the convention and established rules designed to ensure the secrecy of the proceedings and to encourage compromise. As was the case under the Articles of Confederation, each state present had a single vote at the convention.
Common Ground
The delegates—who included prominent thinkers George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, and James Madison along with scores of young Americans chosen by their states—generally agreed that the new national government must be strong enough to truly rule the nation while never disrespecting state and individual rights. To accomplish this, the delegates agreed to a three-part government that would include executive, legislative, and judicial branches. In dividing up the powers amongst the three branches, the delegates imposed a series of checks and balances to keep any one branch from dominating.
The Great Compromise
The delegates disagreed sharply, however, on how to accomplish their overall goals of sufficient power with respect for states and individuals. The first major argument surrounded the issue of representation in the legislative branch (Congress). Edmund Randolphpresented a plan, masterminded by Madison in advance of the convention, known as the Virginia Plan. This plan included a bicameral (two-house) legislature. The lower house (the House of Representatives) would be elected by the people. This house would then elect the representatives to the upper house (the Senate). States would have a number of seats in both houses proportional to their populations. This last feature became the sticking point as it favored large states by giving them more representatives.
William Paterson then presented an alternative plan known as the New Jersey Plan. Under the New Jersey Plan, the legislative branch featured just one house. States would be represented equally to discount differences between large and small states.
The delegates rejected the New Jersey plan as too similar to the failed structure of the Articles of Confederation. However, the small states refused to accept the Virginia Plan, and the debate became increasingly contentious as small states threatened to withdraw from the convention. Only a compromise plan, called the Connecticut Plan, or the Great Compromise, saved the day. Prepared by Roger Sherman and Oliver Ellsworth of Connecticut, the compromise plan accorded each state equal representation in the Senate and proportional representation in the House of Representatives.
Other Compromises
Two additional issues created important obstacles for the delegates. The first extended the representation debate with the question of how to count slaves when determining population. Southern slave states wished all their people counted, even though enslaved Africans were not citizens. Northern states felt this would over-represent the slave states. The two forces compromised by agreeing to count slave populations at a three-to-five ratio when calculating how many representatives a state deserved. This was called the Three-Fifths Compromise.
The slave issue generated another debate as Northerners wanted Congress to regulate commerce, including the slave trade. This could lead to outlawing slavery as well. Southern states staunchly opposed this and refused to sign any document outlawing slavery. One notable Southerner, George Mason, broke with his region to oppose the compromise and call for outlawing slavery. A compromise on slave trade allowed Congress to abolish importation of slaves after 1808 but stopped short of outlawing slavery itself.
These and other compromises enabled the delegates to finally achieve a document for ratification. With North Carolina and Rhode Islandstill dissenting, the Constitution became law in June 1788.
Meeting in Philadelphia in May 1787, 55 delegates to the Constitutional Convention planned to amend (change) the Articles of Confederation that then controlled the U.S. government. The articles had proven ineffective, leaving the federal government without enough power to enforce laws at home or negotiate successfully abroad. The delegates quickly decided to scrap the articles—which could only be amended with the unanimous consent of the states—as a failed document. Thus, the convention unexpectedly became a planning and debate session for an entirely new document that would revise the structure of the budding nation's government. They chose George Washington as president of the convention and established rules designed to ensure the secrecy of the proceedings and to encourage compromise. As was the case under the Articles of Confederation, each state present had a single vote at the convention.
Common Ground
The delegates—who included prominent thinkers George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, and James Madison along with scores of young Americans chosen by their states—generally agreed that the new national government must be strong enough to truly rule the nation while never disrespecting state and individual rights. To accomplish this, the delegates agreed to a three-part government that would include executive, legislative, and judicial branches. In dividing up the powers amongst the three branches, the delegates imposed a series of checks and balances to keep any one branch from dominating.
The Great Compromise
The delegates disagreed sharply, however, on how to accomplish their overall goals of sufficient power with respect for states and individuals. The first major argument surrounded the issue of representation in the legislative branch (Congress). Edmund Randolphpresented a plan, masterminded by Madison in advance of the convention, known as the Virginia Plan. This plan included a bicameral (two-house) legislature. The lower house (the House of Representatives) would be elected by the people. This house would then elect the representatives to the upper house (the Senate). States would have a number of seats in both houses proportional to their populations. This last feature became the sticking point as it favored large states by giving them more representatives.
William Paterson then presented an alternative plan known as the New Jersey Plan. Under the New Jersey Plan, the legislative branch featured just one house. States would be represented equally to discount differences between large and small states.
The delegates rejected the New Jersey plan as too similar to the failed structure of the Articles of Confederation. However, the small states refused to accept the Virginia Plan, and the debate became increasingly contentious as small states threatened to withdraw from the convention. Only a compromise plan, called the Connecticut Plan, or the Great Compromise, saved the day. Prepared by Roger Sherman and Oliver Ellsworth of Connecticut, the compromise plan accorded each state equal representation in the Senate and proportional representation in the House of Representatives.
Other Compromises
Two additional issues created important obstacles for the delegates. The first extended the representation debate with the question of how to count slaves when determining population. Southern slave states wished all their people counted, even though enslaved Africans were not citizens. Northern states felt this would over-represent the slave states. The two forces compromised by agreeing to count slave populations at a three-to-five ratio when calculating how many representatives a state deserved. This was called the Three-Fifths Compromise.
The slave issue generated another debate as Northerners wanted Congress to regulate commerce, including the slave trade. This could lead to outlawing slavery as well. Southern states staunchly opposed this and refused to sign any document outlawing slavery. One notable Southerner, George Mason, broke with his region to oppose the compromise and call for outlawing slavery. A compromise on slave trade allowed Congress to abolish importation of slaves after 1808 but stopped short of outlawing slavery itself.
These and other compromises enabled the delegates to finally achieve a document for ratification. With North Carolina and Rhode Islandstill dissenting, the Constitution became law in June 1788.