Constitutional+Convention

The Constitutional Convention[[image:SigningoftheConstitution.png width="488" height="320" align="right"]]
The Constitutional Convention (also known as the Philadelphia Convention, Federal Convention, Constitutional Congress, or "Grand Convention at Philadelphia") is a fundamental event in the history of the United States.

**Background**
By 1786, Americans realized that the Articles of Confederation (adopted in 1777) needed to be modified. However, they were leery of creating a monarchy. In January of 1786, the Virginia Legislature, due to great interstate upheaval, Shays' rebellion, and at the suggestion of James Madison, called an assembly of all state delegates to Annapolis, Maryland, for the purpose of decreasing interstate conflict. This became known as the Annapolis Convention. During the course of the Convention, the 12 delegates (from New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Virginia) in attendance supported a motion that called for all states to meet in May 1787 in Philadelphia. Although many of the delegates thought the goal would be to reform the Articles of Confederation, the purpose of those who called for a convention was to abolish the Articles and establish a new government. This was the beginning of the Constitutional Convention.

The Constitutional Convention commenced May 25 and did not dismiss until September 17, 1787. It was held in the Pennsylvania State House (also known as Independence Hall, because the Declaration was also signed there.) George Washington was elected president of the Convention. 55 delegates from 12 of the 13 states attended. These delegates were some of the new country's most promising leaders. Thomas Jefferson, who was serving as Minister to France at the time, said of the delegates were "demi-gods." John Adams who was serving as Minister to Great Britain also supported the convention and encouraged delegates to attend. However there was some opposition. Patrick Henry refused to attend, saying he "smelt a rat in Philadelphia, tending toward the monarchy." Rhode Island also refused to send delegates.

Virginia Plan (Large State Plan)[[image:Independence_Hall.jpg align="right"]]
Prior to the commencement of the convention, the delegates from Virginia met. Using the research and notes of James Madison (also known as the Father of the Constitution), they came up with what became known as the Virginia Plan or "Large State" Plan. It was presented May 29, 1787, four days after the commencement of the convention, by Governor Edmund Randolph. The plan proposed a bicameral (2-house) legislature. The members of the lower house would be elected by the people and the members of the upper house would be elected by the lower house. The Virginia Plan proposed that each House would be elected according to population, contrary to the representation set out by the Articles of Confederation where each state had one vote. An executive branch existed only to make certain the will of the legislative branch was fulfilled. The Virginia Plan also had a judiciary branch and gave both the judiciary and executive branch the power to veto.

**Charles Pickney Plan**
After the proposal of the Virginia Plan, Charles Pickney of South Carolina presented his own plan. Because Pickney did not provide a copy, the only evidence we have are from the notes of James Madison. The plan proposed a conferedation of the 13 states with a bicameral legislature, consisting of a Senate and a House of Delegates. The House of Delegates would be elected by the people, having one member represent one thousand inhabitants. The House would elect the members of the Senate. Members of the Senate would represent one of four regions and serve on four year rotations. The two Houses would meet in a joint session to elect the President and appoint members of the cabinet. Congress would also serves a judiciary branch to settle conflict between the states. The plan was not debated.

**New Jersey Plan (Small State Plan)**
As a response to the presentation of the Virginia plan, William Paterson, a delegate from New Jersey, asked for an adjournment of the convention to study the plan. Under the Articles of Confederation, each state was was equal, each having only one vote in Congress. The Virginia plan threatened to limit the power of the smaller states by making the both Houses of the Legislature proportionate to the population of each state. A group of delegates from the small states met on 14-15 June, 1787 and created the New Jersey Plan (Small State Plan).

This plan featured a Congress, much like the one in effect under the Articles. However, the New Jersey Plan granted new powers to Congress, such as the power to tax and enforce the collection of such taxes. An executive would be elected by Congress. The Plan also made room for a multi-person executive. The executives would serve one term only but were subject to recall by the request of the state governors. There was a judiciary branch, elected by the executive branch and served for life. Any laws set by Congress overruled underlying laws of the individual states. The plan was rejected, but gave the smaller states a point to rally around. The New Jersey plan was very close to the Articles of Confederation and more along the lines of what many of the delegates had been sent to do, amend the Articles.

**Hamilton's Plan**
Discontent with both the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan, New York delegate Alexander Hamilton proposed a plan of his own, also known as the British Plan because of its resemblance to the British monarchy. His plan called for a bicameral legislature where the Lower House (the Assembly) was elected by the people. The Upper House (the Senate) was chosen by electors, who were elected by the people. The electors also elected the executive, called the Governor. The Governor served for life and had absolute veto over all bills. There was also a judiciary branch who served for life. The Legislative branch also elected state governors and had veto power over any state legislature.

Hamilton's plan was considered well thought out, but because it so closely resembled the British monarchy, it was rejected.

**Connecticut Compromise (Great Compromise)**
Because the biggest problem plaguing the Convention from moving forward was the representation of the Legislature, a delegate from Connecticut, Roger Sherman (who served on the Committee of Five, drafting the Declaration), proposed that the House of Representatives be represented according to population and the Upper House be represented as before, with one vote and only one vote. The issue of representation threatened to break up the Convention. Smaller states, such as Delaware, were instructed to leave the convention equal representation was compromised. Larger states felt it was unfair and did everything in their power to destroy it. The Compromise, presented on June 11, was initially rejected. It wasn't until late July that the large states compromised and the Senate we have today was agreed upon.

**Slavery**
At that time in America, slaves accounted for one-fifth of the population. Most lived in the South, where they made up 40% of the population. The Southern states wanted slaves to be counted when determining representation, but not taxes. James Wilson, of Pennsylvania, finally proposed the Three-Fifths Compromise, where three-fifths of the slaves would be counted for both representation and taxation. Another issue facing the new country was what should be done with the slave trade. This too almost tore the Convention apart. Most Northern states wanted the importation of slaves stopped immediately and completely, but the South was not willing to give it up. They threatened to leave the Convention if the trade were banned. A compromise was proposed that Congress would have the power to ban slave importation in 20 years.

**Drafting and Signing**[[image:constitution_preamble_people.html.jpg align="right"]]
Finally, in late July, after months of debating, the Constitution was finally ready to be written. A Committee of Detail was appointed to draft a document based on the points that had been agreed upon. This document was debated upon for another month. A second committee, the Committee of Style and Arrangement (consisting of Gouverneur Morris, Alexander Hamilton, William Samuel Johnson, Rufus King, and James Madison) produced the final version and submitted it for approval and signing on September 17, 1787.

However, of the 55 delegates, only 39 actually signed the Constitution. Many, such as Colonel Mason, Edmund Randolph and Elbridge Gerry, refused because of it's lack of a Bill of Rights. A Bill of Rights was added and was the final compromise of the Convention. The Constitution was then submitted to the states to be ratified. In order to be law, it needed to be ratified by 9 of the 13 states. However, all of the states ratified it, the last being Rhode Island, in 1790.