Simone Lawson
The framers of the Constitution met in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1787. The Constitutional Convention took place from May to September, with 55 delegates in attendance, though only 39 signed the Constitution. The delegates met in Pennsylvania's State House, now known as Independence Hall. The convention was held to address the problems of the weak central government that existed under the Articles of Confederation. The resulting Constitution established a federal government with more specific powers, including those related to conducting relations with foreign governments.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | Philadelphia |
| Building Name | Pennsylvania State House |
| Building Alternate Name | Independence Hall |
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What You'll Learn
The Constitutional Convention took place in Philadelphia
The Constitutional Convention, which took place in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, between May and September 1787, was a pivotal event in American history. The convention addressed the weaknesses of the central government under the Articles of Confederation, which lacked enforcement powers, the ability to regulate commerce, and the authority to pass or enforce laws. The delegates, including George Washington, James Madison, and Alexander Hamilton, debated and ultimately created a new model of government with a stronger central authority. This new government was structured around a series of checks and balances, dividing federal power between the legislative, judicial, and executive branches.
The convention was held in the Pennsylvania State House, later renamed Independence Hall, in Philadelphia. Fifty-five delegates from 12 states attended the sessions, though only 39 signed the Constitution. The delegates ranged in age from 26-year-old Jonathan Dayton to 81-year-old Benjamin Franklin, who was so unwell that he had to be carried to the sessions. The windows of the meeting hall were nailed shut to ensure secrecy, and the delegates swore to keep the discussions and votes confidential.
The Constitutional Convention was initially intended to revise the existing system of government under the Articles of Confederation. However, the delegates soon decided to create an entirely new form of government. One of the most contentious issues was congressional representation, with delegates debating whether it should be based on population or divided equally among the states. A compromise was reached, with each state receiving one representative for every 30,000 people in the House of Representatives and two in the Senate.
Another critical issue was slavery, which threatened to derail the Union. A temporary resolution was found, with the delegates agreeing to continue the slave trade until 1808. The final draft of the Constitution included a compromise between northern and southern delegates, empowering Congress to end the slave trade in 1808. The delegates also debated whether to include property qualifications for holding office and whether the national government should be allowed to issue paper money.
The Constitution that emerged from the convention established a federal government with more explicit powers, including the authority to conduct foreign relations. The document also created an executive branch to handle routine paperwork and manage foreign affairs, while important powers such as treaty ratification remained with the legislative branch. After the necessary ratifications, the Constitution came into effect in 1789, serving as the foundation of the United States Government ever since.
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55 delegates attended the sessions
The Constitutional Convention, which took place in Philadelphia from May 25 to September 1787, was attended by 55 delegates, also known as the Framers of the Constitution. The convention was held to address the issues of the weak central government that existed under the Articles of Confederation. The delegates created a new model of government with a series of checks and balances, dividing federal authority among the Legislative, Judicial, and Executive branches.
The states had initially appointed 70 representatives to the convention, but 15 appointees did not accept or were unable to attend. Notable absentees included Thomas Jefferson, who was serving as the minister to France, and Patrick Henry, who refused to participate because he suspected a "tendency toward monarchy."
The 55 delegates who did attend the convention ranged in age from 26-year-old Jonathan Dayton to 81-year-old Benjamin Franklin, who had to be carried to sessions in a sedan chair due to his infirmity. Almost all of the delegates had participated in the Revolution, with at least 29 having served in the Continental forces, most of them in command positions. Additionally, all but two or three had served in colonial or state government during their careers.
The delegates met in the Pennsylvania State House, later renamed Independence Hall, in Philadelphia. The windows of the meeting hall were nailed shut to keep the proceedings a secret from the public. The convention culminated in the creation and signing of the United States Constitution, which came into effect in 1789 and has served as the basis of the United States Government ever since.
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The convention took place in the Pennsylvania State House
The Constitutional Convention, which took place from May to September 1787, was held in the Pennsylvania State House, later renamed Independence Hall, in Philadelphia. Fifty-five delegates attended the sessions, though only 39 actually signed the Constitution. The delegates debated and ratified the Constitution of the United States, making the convention one of the most significant events in American history.
The convention was initially intended to revise the league of states and devise the first system of federal government under the Articles of Confederation. However, the framers of the Constitution sought to create a new form of government rather than revise the existing one. They compromised by giving each state one representative for every 30,000 people in the House of Representatives and two representatives in the Senate. They also agreed to count enslaved Africans as three-fifths of a person, and that the slave trade could continue until 1808.
The delegates to the Constitutional Convention created a model of government that relied on a series of checks and balances by dividing federal authority between the Legislative, Judicial, and Executive branches. They established a powerful central government with more specific powers, including those related to conducting relations with foreign governments. Many of the responsibilities for foreign affairs fell under the authority of an executive branch, although important powers, such as treaty ratification, remained with the legislative branch.
The convention was presided over by George Washington, former commanding general of the Continental Army in the American Revolutionary War. Other notable attendees included James Madison, James Wilson, Gouverneur Morris, and, for a while, Alexander Hamilton. Benjamin Franklin, at the age of 81, was too weak to read his speech and asked James Wilson to do so in his stead. Franklin's speech concluded with a plea for all the delegates to sign the Constitution.
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The delegates debated and ratified the Constitution
The Constitutional Convention was held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from May to September 1787. The delegates met in the Pennsylvania State House, later renamed Independence Hall. The convention was attended by 55 delegates, all considered framers of the Constitution, though only 39 signed the document.
The delegates had initially gathered to revise the Articles of Confederation, which had established a weak central government. However, by mid-June, they had decided to create a new system of government. The convention was marked by fierce debates and disagreements, with delegates representing diverse interests and views. One of the most contentious issues was congressional representation, with delegates debating whether it should be based on population or divided equally among the states. A compromise was reached, with each state receiving one representative for every 30,000 people in the House of Representatives and two representatives in the Senate.
Another critical issue was slavery. The delegates agreed to count enslaved Africans as three-fifths of a person and temporarily resolved to continue the slave trade until 1808. This agreement between northern and southern delegates was a significant step toward ending the slave trade. Additionally, the delegates addressed the challenges arising from the Revolutionary War, including the payment of debts and domestic issues. They created a model of government with a series of checks and balances, dividing federal authority among the legislative, judicial, and executive branches.
The final report of the committee served as the first draft of the Constitution. Despite ongoing debates and attempts to alter the draft, the delegates ultimately agreed on a final version. Benjamin Franklin, in his last great speech, made a powerful argument for the new Constitution, acknowledging its imperfections but recognizing the difficulty of achieving unanimous approval among a diverse group of individuals. Franklin's speech concluded with a plea for all delegates to sign the Constitution.
The Constitution was ratified in 1789, marking a significant achievement in American history. The delegates bypassed state legislatures and called for special ratifying conventions in each state. Ratification by 9 of the 13 states enacted the new government, and the Constitution came into effect, establishing a federal government with more specific powers, including conducting relations with foreign governments.
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The Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787
The United States Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Constitutional Convention, which took place in the Pennsylvania State House (now known as Independence Hall), began in May 1787 and lasted four months. The convention was convened to address the weaknesses of the central government under the Articles of Confederation and to devise a new system of federal government.
The convention was attended by 55 delegates, appointed by the original states, except Rhode Island. These delegates, or framers, are considered the Founding Fathers of the United States. The delegates ranged in age from 26-year-old Jonathan Dayton to 81-year-old Benjamin Franklin, who was so unwell that he had to be carried to sessions in a sedan chair. Franklin, in his final great speech, made the motion for the delegates to sign the Constitution.
The Constitution that emerged from the convention established a federal government with more specific powers, including the authority to conduct foreign relations. The framers created a government with three branches: the Legislative, the Judicial, and the Executive. They also agreed to compromise on several contentious issues, such as congressional representation and the slave trade.
The Constitution was ratified by 9 of the 13 states, and it came into effect in 1789, serving as the basis of the United States Government ever since.
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Frequently asked questions
The framers of the Constitution met in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
The Constitutional Convention took place in the Pennsylvania State House, now known as Independence Hall.
The framers met in the State House from May 1787 to September 1787.
The framers discussed a variety of topics, including the structure of government, congressional representation, slavery, and foreign affairs. They ultimately created a plan for a new form of republican government with a stronger central government.
