The Constitutional Convention | May to September, 1787

Summary

In the spring of 1787, James Madison, an overprepared politician, arrived at the Philadelphia Convention with plans to draft a new U.S. Constitution, despite the initial goal of merely amending the Articles of Confederation. The script details Madison's strategic maneuvering, the debates between Federalists and Anti-Federalists, and the various proposals, including the Virginia and New Jersey Plans. It also covers the challenges, compromises, and eventual signing of the Constitution, setting the stage for its ratification by the states, despite lingering opposition.

Takeaways

• 📜 The Constitutional Convention began in 1787, initially intended to revise the Articles of Confederation.
• 👨‍💼 James Madison, a key Federalist, aimed to propose a new Constitution, working behind the scenes before the convention.
• 🏛️ The Virginia Plan, developed by Madison and other Federalists, proposed a strong federal government with a bicameral legislature.
• ⚖️ The Virginia Plan introduced the idea of proportional representation based on state population, a radical departure from the one-vote-per-state system.
• 🤝 The Connecticut Compromise resolved the conflict between large and small states by creating a bicameral legislature with proportional representation in the lower house and equal representation in the upper house.
• 🛑 Slavery was a contentious issue, and the Three-Fifths Compromise was introduced to count slaves as part of a state's population for representation and taxation.
• 🇺🇸 The executive branch was debated, with some proposing multiple presidents, but ultimately, a single president with a four-year term and reelection possibilities was chosen.
• 🏛️ The electoral college was created as a compromise to elect the president, insulating the process from direct popular vote.
• 📝 Despite opposition from figures like George Mason, the Constitution was signed by most delegates on September 17, 1787.
• ⚔️ The battle for ratification was not guaranteed, as 9 out of 13 states still needed to approve the Constitution for it to take effect.

Q & A

What was James Madison's main objective at the Constitutional Convention?

James Madison's main objective was to propose a new Constitution, rather than simply amend the Articles of Confederation as most delegates expected.

Why was Madison confident he could sway the delegates to propose a new Constitution?

Madison believed that many delegates, especially former Continental Army officers and those with experience in federal government, understood how flawed the Articles of Confederation were and would be open to his proposal for a new Constitution.

What was the Virginia Plan, and why was it significant?

The Virginia Plan proposed a new three-branch government with legislative, executive, and judicial branches. It was significant because it shifted the debate towards creating an entirely new government rather than simply amending the Articles of Confederation.

How did small states react to the Virginia Plan?

Small states opposed the Virginia Plan because it proposed proportional representation based on population, which they felt would diminish their influence. They instead supported the New Jersey Plan, which kept equal representation for all states.

What was the New Jersey Plan, and how did it differ from the Virginia Plan?

The New Jersey Plan proposed maintaining equal representation for states in Congress and keeping Congress as a single house, much like under the Articles of Confederation. It also limited federal power, in contrast to the Virginia Plan's push for a stronger federal government.

What compromise helped resolve the dispute between large and small states?

The Connecticut Compromise, also known as the Great Compromise, resolved the dispute by proposing a bicameral legislature with proportional representation in the lower house and equal representation in the upper house.

What was the three-fifths compromise?

The three-fifths compromise determined that for purposes of representation and taxation, five enslaved people would be counted as three free persons, giving southern states more influence in the House of Representatives.

How did slavery influence the discussions about the Constitution?

Slavery was a contentious issue, with southern states pushing for enslaved people to count toward population totals for representation, while opponents like Governor Morris denounced slavery as morally wrong. However, compromise was necessary to prevent southern states from walking out of the convention.

How was the executive branch designed in the Constitution?

The executive branch was designed to have a single president, serving four-year terms with no limit on reelection. The president would be chosen by the Electoral College to avoid direct election by the people, which many delegates feared would lead to mob rule.

Why was a Bill of Rights not included in the original Constitution?

A Bill of Rights was left out of the original Constitution because the delegates feared that debating it would derail the convention and delay the completion of the document.