The Constitutional Convention | Constitution 101
Summary
TLDRThis script recounts the pivotal Constitutional Convention of 1787, highlighting three key compromises: the balance of power between large and small states, the creation of the Electoral College for presidential elections, and the contentious Three-Fifths Compromise regarding slavery. It underscores the delegates' struggles to reconcile differing visions of governance and the lasting impact of their decisions, including the Electoral College's role and the eventual abolition of slavery through the Civil War and the 13th Amendment.
Takeaways
- 🏛️ The U.S. Constitution was drafted during the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia from May 25 to September 17, 1787.
- 🌐 The Virginia Plan proposed by James Madison suggested representation in Congress based on population size.
- 🗽 The New Jersey Plan, supported by smaller states, advocated for equal representation in a single-house legislature.
- ⚖️ The Connecticut Compromise resulted in a bicameral Congress with the House based on population and the Senate with equal state representation.
- 🤔 The Electoral College was devised as a compromise for presidential elections, balancing direct popular vote and selection by Congress.
- 👥 Delegates debated the nature of the presidency, with some favoring a strong executive for life and others a weak executive.
- 🗳️ The Electoral College was seen as a safeguard against demagogues and ensured the election of a president by national elites.
- 🔢 The Three-Fifths Compromise counted enslaved people as three-fifths of a person for congressional representation purposes.
- 🚫 The Constitution initially did not explicitly protect slavery but included compromises that increased pro-slavery influence.
- 📜 The convention concluded without explicit endorsement of slavery, leaving its future to states and federal government.
- 🖋️ Benjamin Franklin emphasized the imperfections of the Constitution and the importance of humility and open-mindedness in its interpretation.
Q & A
What was the purpose of the Constitutional Convention that began on May 25th, 1787?
-The purpose of the Constitutional Convention was to draft and debate the U.S. Constitution, aiming to form a more perfect union, establish justice, ensure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty.
Where did the Constitutional Convention take place?
-The Constitutional Convention took place in the Pennsylvania State House, now known as Independence Hall.
What was the Virginia Plan proposed by James Madison?
-The Virginia Plan proposed a legislative branch consisting of two houses where states would be represented based on their populations, meaning more populous states would have more representatives.
How did the New Jersey Plan differ from the Virginia Plan?
-The New Jersey Plan proposed a one-house legislature organized around state equality, with each state getting one vote, regardless of its population, as opposed to the Virginia Plan which favored representation based on population.
What was the Connecticut Compromise and how did it resolve the dispute between big and small states?
-The Connecticut Compromise proposed a Congress consisting of two houses: the House of Representatives based on population and the Senate with equal representation for each state. This compromise resolved the dispute by giving more seats to larger states in the House and equal representation in the Senate.
What was the Electoral College and how did it come to be?
-The Electoral College is the method for selecting the president of the United States. It emerged as a compromise between direct popular election and selection by Congress, aiming to prevent dangerous demagogues from gaining power.
Why was George Washington's role as the first president significant?
-George Washington's role as the first president was significant because his national name recognition and respect ensured the convention's success and provided a model of virtue for future presidents.
What was the Three-Fifths Compromise and its implications?
-The Three-Fifths Compromise counted enslaved people as three-fifths of a person for purposes of congressional representation. It increased pro-slavery strength in Congress, the presidency through the Electoral College, and at the Supreme Court by electing pro-slavery presidents and appointing pro-slavery justices.
Why did some delegates oppose the inclusion of slavery in the Constitution?
-Delegates like Gouverneur Morris opposed slavery, calling it a nefarious institution and the curse of heaven on the states where it prevailed. They found it hypocritical to treat enslaved people as property while also granting them representation.
What was the compromise regarding the international slave trade?
-The compromise prevented Congress from banning the international slave trade for another 20 years until 1808, reflecting a split between states like Virginia, which wanted an immediate ban, and states like South Carolina and Georgia, which still relied on the slave trade.
What did Benjamin Franklin say about the Constitution during its closing?
-Benjamin Franklin admitted that the Constitution wasn't perfect but asked his fellow delegates to approach it with humility, acknowledging that he might change his opinions with better information or fuller consideration.
Why did some delegates refuse to sign the Constitution?
-Delegates like George Mason and Edmund Randolph of Virginia, and Elbridge Gerry of Massachusetts refused to sign the Constitution because it didn't contain a bill of rights.
Outlines
🏛️ Constitutional Convention and Compromises
The paragraph discusses the beginning of the U.S. Constitution and the Constitutional Convention held in Philadelphia from May 25th to September 17th, 1787. It highlights three crucial compromises: power balance between large and small states, the election of the president, and the future of slavery. The Virginia Plan, favored by larger states, proposed representation based on population, while the New Jersey Plan, supported by smaller states, advocated for equal representation. The Connecticut Compromise resolved this by creating a bicameral legislature with the House of Representatives based on population and the Senate with equal representation. The paragraph also introduces the Electoral College as a compromise for presidential elections, balancing direct popular election and selection by Congress.
🗳️ The Electoral College and Slavery Compromises
This section delves into the Electoral College and the contentious Three-Fifths Compromise. It explains how the Electoral College was designed as a middle ground between direct popular election and congressional selection, aiming to prevent the rise of dangerous demagogues. The Three-Fifths Compromise is explored, where enslaved individuals were counted as three-fifths of a person for congressional representation. This compromise was seen as pragmatic but hypocritical, as it treated enslaved people as property while affording them partial representation. The paragraph also touches on the compromise that delayed Congress's ability to ban the international slave trade until 1808, reflecting the economic reliance of some states on slavery.
📜 Signing the Constitution and its Aftermath
The final paragraph covers the conclusion of the Constitutional Convention and the signing of the Constitution by the delegates, which did not immediately give it legal force but signified their support. It notes that three delegates—George Mason and Edmund Randolph of Virginia, and Elbridge Gerry of Massachusetts—refused to sign due to the absence of a bill of rights. The paragraph concludes with Benjamin Franklin's call for humility and the importance of maintaining the constitutional republic, emphasizing that it is up to the people to preserve it. It also recounts a conversation between Franklin and a citizen, reflecting on the nature of the new government.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Constitutional Convention
💡Virginia Plan
💡New Jersey Plan
💡Connecticut Compromise
💡Electoral College
💡Three-Fifths Compromise
💡Slavery
💡Benjamin Franklin
💡George Washington
💡Bill of Rights
💡Ratification
Highlights
The U.S. Constitution begins with the aim to form a more perfect union and secure liberty.
The Constitutional Convention, known as the miracle at Philadelphia, started on May 25th, 1787.
Delegates met in secret at the Pennsylvania State House, now Independence Hall.
Three crucial compromises were made at the Constitutional Convention.
The Virginia Plan proposed representation based on population for both houses of Congress.
The New Jersey Plan suggested one house legislature with equal representation for each state.
The Connecticut Compromise created a bicameral Congress with representation based on population in the House and equal representation in the Senate.
The Electoral College was devised as a compromise for selecting the president.
Debate over the presidency included the idea of a president elected for life.
The Electoral College was a middle ground between direct popular election and selection by Congress.
The Three-Fifths clause counted enslaved people as three-fifths of a person for representation purposes.
James Wilson brokered the Three-Fifths compromise to mediate between differing views on enslaved population counting.
The Three-Fifths clause increased pro-slavery strength in Congress and the presidency.
The delegates refused to write explicit protection for slavery into the Constitution.
The convention accepted a compromise preventing Congress from banning the international slave trade until 1808.
Benjamin Franklin's final thoughts acknowledged the Constitution's imperfections and called for humility.
The Constitution was signed on September 17th, 1787, but required ratification by the states to become law.
Three delegates refused to sign the Constitution due to the absence of a bill of rights.
Dr. Franklin's reply to Mrs. Powell about the new government being a republic if it can be kept.
Transcripts
Jeffrey Rosen: [MUSIC] The U. S. Constitution
opens with the following powerful words.
"We the people of the United States,
in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice,
insure domestic tranquility,
provide for the common defense,
promote the general welfare,
and secure the blessings of
liberty to ourselves and our posterity,
do ordain and establish
this Constitution for the United States of America."
How did we get here? The story
of the Constitutional Convention,
which some have called the miracle at Philadelphia,
begins on May 25th, 1787.
The delegates met in the Pennsylvania State House,
which is now called Independence Hall,
and it's right across from
the National Constitution Center where I am right now.
They deliberated in secret until September 17th.
What happened during these crucial months
as the delegates drafted and
debated the U.S. Constitution?
Well, today we're going to talk about
three crucial compromises at
the Constitutional Convention that
led to its proposal and ratification.
They include, first, the balance
of power between big states and small states.
Second, the election of the president,
and third, the future of slavery.
Well, let's begin with the disputes
between the big states and small states.
The big states favored the Virginia Plan,
which was largely the work of James Madison.
In the Virginia Plan,
Madison proposed a legislative branch
consisting of two houses.
In both houses, the states would be
represented based on populations,
so the more people in the state,
the more representatives it would
have in both houses of Congress.
The small states led by William Paterson of
New Jersey didn't like
this plan and they countered with the New Jersey Plan.
It grew out of fears that the Virginia version would
leave the large states to dominate the small states.
The New Jersey plan envisions
a one house legislature organized around state equality,
with each state getting one vote
regardless of its population.
Eventually, Roger Sherman and
Oliver Ellsworth were both from Connecticut,
proposed the Connecticut Compromise.
Under the Connecticut Plan,
Congress would consist of two houses,
the House of Representatives and the Senate.
The House is organized on the basis of population which
gives the bigger states
more seats than the smaller states,
and then the Senate is organized
on the basis of equal representation
with each state regardless of
its size receiving two senators.
The great compromise eventually passed by a single vote.
Let's now turn from Congress to
the presidency focusing on
the second big set of compromises which
led to our method for selecting a president,
which is the Electoral College.
To understand the debate over the Electoral College,
we have to understand the framers debates
about the nature of the presidency itself.
Some delegates like Alexander Hamilton wanted
a strong national executive elected for life.
Others like Roger Sherman wanted a weak executive
who'd simply carry the will
of the legislature into effect.
How did we end up with the Electoral College?
Well, the delegates considered a range of options.
One idea, supported by James Madison,
was to have Congress pick the president.
That would have the advantage of putting the decision
in the hands of the nation's most knowledgeable leaders,
and presumably they could pick
the best person because they knew the candidates.
The concern was, as Gouverneur Morris warned,
that the result would eventually be the work of
intrigue of a cabal and
a faction producing a president who'd
become a mere tool of his supporters in Congress.
Another idea was proposed by James Wilson,
the great proponent of popular sovereignty.
James Wilson who came from Pennsylvania,
proposed election of the president by popular vote.
This proposal would have the advantage of
routing the president in popular sovereignty.
But some delegates, like George Mason of Virginia,
were concerned that the size of the country would
make it hard to pull off a national election.
The average voter just wouldn't know enough about
an out-of-state candidate to make an informed choice.
Everyone at the convention knew that
George Washington would be the first president,
and that was tremendously important.
That's what ensured the convention success.
But no other candidate would have
the national name recognition
or the respect that the virtuous Washington had.
The Electoral College emerged as
a compromise between those like James Wilson,
who wanted the direct popular election of the president,
those like James Madison who supported
presidential selection by Congress,
and those like Alexander Hamilton who
viewed the Electoral College as a way of guarding against
dangerous demagogues who might
seduce the people into giving up their liberties.
Instead, it would leave the president and his election
or her election ultimately to
the votes of national elites.
Let's end with our third compromise.
It's the most controversial and
troubling aspect of the convention,
and it involves the compromises that
the delegates made about slavery.
In particular, let's focus on debates over
the infamous Three-Fifths clause.
Following the great compromise
between the big and the small states,
the House of Representatives drew up
districts based on a state's population.
The more people in the state, the greater
number of districts it gets.
But how would enslaved people be
counted for the purpose of representation in the house.
That's what led to
the debate over the three-fifths clause,
which counted enslaved people as three-fifths of
a person for purposes of congressional representation.
Where did that infamous compromise come from?
Well, it was James Wilson who broker
the compromise at the convention that counted
enslaved people as three-fifths of a person for
purposes of determining representation in Congress.
Wilson proposed the formula which Congress
had used earlier for taxing purposes.
He saw it as a pragmatic effort to mediate between those
who wanted to count enslaved people
fully in a state's total population,
and those who wanted to exclude them entirely.
Anti-slavery delegates said this was hypocritical.
How could Southern delegates treat enslaved people as
full persons for purposes
of representation in the national government,
but at the same time deny
their humanity by treating them as property.
For example, Gouverneur Morris,
the Pennsylvania delegate,
who is one of the most vocal opponents of slavery,
called slavery a nefarious institution.
The curse of heaven on the states where it prevailed.
Nevertheless, the delegates, and in particular
the delegates from Georgia and South Carolina,
decided that the clause was necessary to
secure the support of the deep south.
This clause had a huge impact over time.
The three-fifths clause increased
pro-slavery strength in Congress by
counting enslaved people as three-fifths of a person.
It also increased the strength of
the slave states in
the presidency through the Electoral College
and at the Supreme Court by electing
pro-slavery presidents who
appointed pro-slavery justices.
In the end, the delegates refused to write
explicit protection for slavery into the constitution.
According to James Madison's notes,
Mr. Madison thought it wrong to admit in
the Constitution the idea
that there could be property in men.
When Frederick Douglass read those words when
Madison's notes were published in 1840s,
he said it changed his conception of
himself as a man and as a citizen,
and changed him from viewing
the constitution as a pro-slavery document to believing
that the framers left the future of
slavery up to the states and the federal government.
But to ensure that
the constitutional convention continued,
the delegates accepted the three-fifths compromise,
as well as another infamous compromise
which prevented Congress from banning
the international slave trade for
another 20 years until 1808.
Here there really was a split between states like
Virginia which wanted an immediate ban
to the international slave trade,
and states like South Carolina and
Georgia which still relied
on the international slave trade.
George Mason from Virginia called it an infernal traffic
that originated in the avarice of British merchants.
Avarice means greed, but
South Carolina and Georgia refused to budge and
the result was the clause that prevented Congress from
banning the international slave trade until 1808,
which it promptly did.
Unfortunately by that point,
the invention of the cotton gin in 1794 had
vastly increased the lucrativeness
of the American system of enslavement.
The Southern economy as a whole became even more
reliant on the labor of the enslaved.
It would take the Civil War,
followed by the ratification of the 13th Amendment in
1865 to end slavery in America.
Well, the Constitutional Convention
ended on September 17th, 1787.
We celebrate Constitution Day today as September 17.
As the convention was reaching its close,
Benjamin Franklin offered some final thoughts.
He admitted that the Constitution wasn't perfect,
but he asked his fellow delegates to
approach it in a spirit of humility.
"I confess", Franklin said,
"that there are several parts of
this Constitution which I
do not at present approve,
but I'm sure I shall never approve them.
For having lived long,
I've experienced many instances of being obliged by
better information or
fuller consideration to change opinions,
even on important subjects,
which I once thought right,
but found to be otherwise.
It is therefore,
that the older I grow,
the more apt I am to doubt
my own judgment and to pay
more respect to the judgment of others.
After Franklin speech,
the delegates signed the Constitution.
Their signatures didn't give it
the force of supreme law,
only we, the people and
ratifying conventions could do that.
But the proposal of the Constitution on
September 17th was a powerful sign
of the delegate support.
Nevertheless, three delegates refused to sign:
George Mason and Edmund Randolph of Virginia,
and Elbridge Gerry of Massachusetts.
Why did they refuse to sign the new constitution?
The main reason is that it
didn't contain a bill of rights.
On the last day of the convention,
Franklin met a citizen of Philadelphia,
Mrs. Elizabeth Powell, and she asked him,
"Well, Dr. Franklin, what have we got?
A republic or a monarchy?"
Franklin's reply, "A republic,
if you can keep it."
It's up to all of us to keep
the constitutional republic that the convention wrote.
Learning about it, in a spirit
of open-mindedness and humility,
as you're doing now, is the best place to start.
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