The Constitutional Convention | Constitution 101

Summary

This 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.