Malcolm Rivera
The Virginia Ratifying Convention, also known as the Virginia Federal Convention, was a meeting of 168 delegates from Virginia who gathered in 1788 to ratify or reject the United States Constitution. The Convention was led by James Madison, who supported the Constitution, and Patrick Henry, who led the opposition. The Convention included a recommendation for a Bill of Rights, which Madison later led the First Congress to send to the states for ratification. The Virginia Plan, drafted by Madison and introduced by Edmund Randolph, proposed a bicameral national legislature with proportional representation in both houses. This plan was adopted as the Great Compromise or the Connecticut Compromise, resolving the most controversial aspect of the Constitution's drafting.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Leader of those in favour | James Madison |
| Leader of those opposed | Patrick Henry |
| Governor of Virginia | Edmund Randolph |
| Convention president | Edmund Pendleton |
| Number of delegates | 168 |
| Convention location | Richmond Theatre, Richmond |
| Convention dates | 2-27 June 1788 |
| Compromise | The "Great Compromise" or "Connecticut Compromise" |
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What You'll Learn
The Virginia Ratifying Convention
Edmund Randolph, who had refused to sign the Constitution in the Philadelphia Convention, chose the Virginia Ratifying Convention to support adoption. He noted that the Confederation was "totally inadequate" and leading to American downfall. George Mason, who also refused to sign the Constitution in Philadelphia, continued his opposition, arguing that a national, consolidated government would overburden Virginians with direct taxes in addition to state taxes, and that government of an extensive territory must necessarily destroy liberty.
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The Virginia Plan
The Virginia Ratifying Convention, also historically referred to as the "Virginia Federal Convention", was a convention of 168 delegates from Virginia who met in 1788 to ratify or reject the United States Constitution, which had been drafted at the Philadelphia Convention the previous year. The Virginia ratification included a recommendation for a Bill of Rights, and Madison subsequently led the First Congress to send the Bill of Rights to the states for ratification.
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Opposition to the Constitution
The Virginia ratification included a recommendation for a Bill of Rights, and Madison subsequently led the First Congress to send the Bill of Rights to the states for ratification.
The Virginia Ratifying Convention, also historically referred to as the "Virginia Federal Convention", was a convention of 168 delegates from Virginia who met in 1788 to ratify or reject the United States Constitution. The Convention met and deliberated from June 2 through June 27 in Richmond at the Richmond Theatre, presently the site of Monumental Church.
The Virginia Plan, drafted by James Madison and introduced to the Convention by Edmund Randolph on May 29, 1787, proposed the creation of a bicameral national legislature, or a legislature consisting of two houses, in which the “rights of suffrage” in both houses would be proportional to the size of the state. The alternative to the Virginia Plan, William Paterson’s New Jersey Plan, intended to give states equal representation in a one-bodied legislature.
The delegates to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia established equal representation in the Senate and proportional representation in the House of Representatives. Called the “Great Compromise” or the “Connecticut Compromise,” this unique plan for congressional representation resolved the most controversial aspect of the drafting of the Constitution.
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The Connecticut Compromise
The Virginia Plan, drafted by Madison and introduced by Edmund Randolph, proposed that the "rights of suffrage" in both houses would be proportional to the size of the state. This meant that each state's representation in Congress would be based on its population. The alternative to the Virginia Plan, William Paterson's New Jersey Plan, intended to give states equal representation in a one-bodied legislature.
The Virginia Ratifying Convention, also historically referred to as the Virginia Federal Convention, was a convention of 168 delegates from Virginia who met in 1788 to ratify or reject the United States Constitution. The Convention was led by James Madison, who supported the adoption of the Constitution, and Patrick Henry, who led those opposed. The Convention included a recommendation for a Bill of Rights, which Madison subsequently led the First Congress to send to the states for ratification.
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The Philadelphia Convention
The Virginia Plan, drafted by James Madison, proposed a bicameral national legislature, consisting of two houses, in which the 'rights of suffrage' in both houses would be proportional to the size of the state. This was opposed by William Paterson's New Jersey Plan, which intended to give states equal representation in a one-bodied legislature.
The Virginia Ratifying Convention, or Virginia Federal Convention, met in 1788 to ratify or reject the United States Constitution, which had been drafted at the Philadelphia Convention the previous year. The Virginia ratification included a recommendation for a Bill of Rights, which was subsequently sent to the states for ratification.
Edmund Randolph, who had refused to sign the Constitution in Philadelphia, chose the Virginia Ratifying Convention to support adoption. He noted that the Confederation was "totally inadequate" and leading to American downfall, and that the new Constitution would repair the inadequacies of the Articles. George Mason, on the other hand, continued his opposition, arguing that a national, consolidated government would overburden Virginians with direct taxes in addition to state taxes, and that government of an extensive territory must necessarily destroy liberty.
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Frequently asked questions
The Virginia Plan was drafted by James Madison and introduced to the Convention by Edmund Randolph on 29 May 1787. It proposed a bicameral national legislature, with a Senate and a House of Representatives, in which the 'rights of suffrage' in both houses would be proportional to the size of the state.
The alternative to the Virginia Plan was William Paterson's New Jersey Plan, which intended to give states equal representation in a one-bodied legislature.
The 'Great Compromise' or 'Connecticut Compromise' adopted on 16 July 1787, utilised both forms of representation, providing proportional representation in the House and equal representation in the Senate.
