Simone Lawson
The Constitution of the United States is the supreme law of the land, superseding the Articles of Confederation in 1789. The Constitutional Convention of 1787, which was initially called to revise the Articles, soon became a battleground for competing visions of governance. The Virginia Plan, also known as the Large State Plan or Randolph Plan, proposed a powerful national legislature and a chief executive, marking a significant departure from the Articles. Other plans, like the New Jersey Plan, sought to retain federal features of the Articles. The final Constitution, with its three branches of government, was a compromise that faced fierce opposition from Anti-Federalists who saw it as a reminder of the monarchy they had overthrown. The absence of a bill of rights was also a serious objection. Despite these controversies, the Constitution was ratified by 9 of the 13 states, marking a pivotal moment in the history of the United States.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of the Constitutional Convention | May 1787 |
| Location of the Convention | Philadelphia |
| Purpose of the Convention | To revise the Articles of Confederation |
| Outcome of the Convention | A new form of government was decided upon |
| Number of States Represented | 12 |
| Number of Delegates | 74 |
| Number of States Needed for Ratification | 9 |
| Type of Government Proposed | Federal |
| Basis of Congressional Representation | Population |
| Legislative Branch | Bicameral Congress |
| Executive Branch | Elected Chief Executive |
| Judicial Branch | Appointed Judicial Branch |
| Powers of the Federal Government | Enforceable powers, regulate commerce, print money |
| Slavery | The slave trade was allowed until 1808 |
| Ratification Process | Special ratifying conventions in each state |
| Notable Figures | James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, George Washington, James Wilson |
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What You'll Learn
The Virginia Plan
The delegates at the Convention eventually settled on the Connecticut Compromise, which incorporated elements of both the Virginia and New Jersey Plans. This compromise created a House of Representatives apportioned by population and a Senate in which each state is equally represented. While the final Constitution differed from the Virginia Plan in some respects, the Virginia Plan served as the foundation for the United States Constitution.
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The New Jersey Plan
The plan was debated for four days, but ultimately rejected by the delegates on June 19, with three states voting in favour, seven against, and one divided. The delegates from the more populous states heavily criticized the plan, while those from the less populous states failed to fully defend it. The rejection of the New Jersey Plan led to the adoption of the Virginia Plan, which favoured a stronger national government. However, the concerns of the less populous states were addressed through the Connecticut Compromise, which combined elements of both plans to create the current structure of Congress.
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The Connecticut Compromise
The compromise was approved on July 16, 1787, after North Carolina switched its vote to equal representation per state and the Massachusetts delegation was divided, resulting in a 5-4 vote of the states. This agreement allowed deliberations to continue, leading to the Three-Fifths Compromise, which further complicated the issue of popular representation in the House.
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The absence of a bill of rights
The Anti-Federalists vehemently opposed the Constitution due to its resemblance to the central government they had recently overthrown and its lack of a bill of rights. The Federalists, on the other hand, strongly advocated for a robust central government to address the nation's challenges. The ratification process was intense, and the tide turned in Massachusetts with the "vote now, amend later" compromise, which helped secure victory and eventually led to the creation of the new government.
The delegates at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in 1787 had initially gathered to revise the Articles of Confederation, America's first constitution. However, they soon began considering a complete government overhaul. The Virginia Plan, also known as the Large State Plan or Randolph Plan, proposed a bicameral (two-house) Congress elected based on state population, an elected chief executive, and an appointed judiciary. The New Jersey Plan, or the Small State Plan, retained the legislative structure while strengthening Congress's powers.
The issue of slavery was central to the debates, and the Three-Fifths Compromise counted 60% of enslaved people in each state towards congressional representation, increasing southern states' seats. The delegates also agreed to allow Congress to ban the slave trade after 20 years, by 1808.
The Constitution, with its four sections—Preamble, seven Articles, an endorsement, and 27 amendments—superseded the Articles of Confederation on March 4, 1789. The first three articles embody the separation of powers, dividing the federal government into legislative, executive, and judicial branches. The remaining articles outline federalism and the rights and responsibilities of state governments in relation to the federal government.
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The Three-Fifths Compromise
> Representatives and direct Taxes shall be apportioned among the several States which may be included within this Union, according to their respective Numbers, which shall be determined by adding to the whole Number of free Persons, including those bound to Service for a Term of Years, and excluding Indians not taxed, three fifths of all other Persons.
In 1868, Section 2 of the Fourteenth Amendment superseded this clause and explicitly repealed the Three-Fifths Compromise.
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Frequently asked questions
The Virginia Plan, also known as the Large State Plan or the Randolph Plan, was the first proposal discussed at the Constitutional Convention of 1787. It called for a bicameral (two-house) Congress, with representation based on state population, an elected chief executive, and an appointed judiciary. This plan was a drastic departure from the original intention to amend the existing Articles of Confederation, and it set the stage for the creation of a new form of government.
The Constitutional Convention of 1787 was a gathering of delegates from 12 of the 13 original states (Rhode Island refused to send delegates) in Philadelphia, tasked with amending the Articles of Confederation, which had proven ineffective in meeting the young nation's needs. The convention ultimately led to the creation of a new constitution and a redesigned federal government.
The Articles of Confederation, America's first constitution, gave the Confederation Congress rule-making and funding powers but lacked enforcement, commerce regulation, and money-printing abilities. Disputes over territory, war pensions, taxation, and trade threatened to tear the country apart, so a new constitution was needed to address these issues and create a more unified nation.
One of the fiercest arguments was over congressional representation—whether it should be based on population or divided equally among the states. Slavery was also a central issue, with the "Three-Fifths Compromise" counting enslaved people as three-fifths of a person for representation purposes. The delegates also debated the powers of the new federal government, with some fearing it resembled the monarchy they had recently overthrown.
