The Constitutional Convention: Who Led The Meeting?

The Constitutional Convention, also known as the Federal Convention, the Philadelphia Convention, or the Grand Convention at Philadelphia, took place in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from May 25 to September 17, 1787. George Washington, former commanding general of the Continental Army in the American Revolutionary War, was elected unanimously as the president of the convention. The convention was held to address the problems of the weak central government that existed under the Articles of Confederation and resulted in the creation of a new constitution for the United States. James Madison, often referred to as the father of the Constitution, was a driving force behind the convention and played a key role in its proceedings.

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George Washington was unanimously elected president

The convention was convened to revise the Articles of Confederation, which was the first constitution of the United States. However, the delegates ultimately decided to set aside the Articles of Confederation and create a new constitution. The convention was characterized by reasoned dialogue and compromise, as the delegates debated various issues, including political representation, commerce, slavery, and the structure of the government. They also discussed the qualifications for holding office and the role of the national government in issuing paper money.

George Washington, a former commanding general of the Continental Army in the American Revolutionary War, was a proponent of a stronger national government. He, along with James Madison and Alexander Hamilton, feared that the young country was on the brink of collapse due to the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation. Washington's presence at the convention, along with that of Benjamin Franklin, gave the group dignity and prestige.

The convention resulted in the creation of a powerful central government with three branches: the legislative, executive, and judicial. The legislative branch was tasked with making laws, the executive branch with providing leadership and enforcing laws, and the judicial branch with explaining and interpreting laws. The constitution also included provisions addressing issues related to religion and freedom of speech, which would later be covered by the First Amendment.

James Madison's plan was an outline of goals

James Madison, an American statesman, diplomat, and Founding Father, served as the fourth president of the United States from 1809 to 1817. He is often referred to as the "Father of the Constitution" for his crucial role in drafting and promoting the Constitution of the United States and the Bill of Rights. Madison was born into a prominent slave-owning planter family in Virginia. He was dissatisfied with the weak national government established by the Articles of Confederation, and he played a key role in organizing the Constitutional Convention, which produced a new constitution to strengthen the republican government.

Madison's plan, known as the Virginia Plan, served as an outline of goals and a broad structure for a new federal constitution. It proposed a government with three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial. The legislative branch would be bicameral, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives, with representation based on population. The executive branch would provide leadership and enforce laws, while the judicial branch would interpret laws. Madison favoured a strong single executive, although the Virginia Plan did not explicitly define the structure of the executive branch.

The Virginia Plan also included a federal Council of Revision with the power to veto laws passed by Congress. It called for the abrogation of the Articles of Confederation and the creation of a new constitution, which would be ratified by special conventions in each state rather than by the state legislatures. Madison's plan favoured the large states and granted significant power to the new federal government, making it the nationalists' starting point for debate. The Virginia Plan was chosen as the foundation for the new government, and it significantly influenced the final constitution.

Madison's contributions to the Constitutional Convention extended beyond the Virginia Plan. He actively participated in the debates, recorded detailed notes, and collaborated with other delegates to shape the final constitution. Madison also played a crucial role in promoting the ratification of the Constitution. Along with Alexander Hamilton and John Jay, he wrote a series of essays, collectively known as The Federalist, to sway public opinion towards supporting the new constitution. These essays contributed to shaping public discourse and building consensus around the adoption of the Constitution.

The convention rejected the Articles of Confederation

The Articles of Confederation, the first American constitution, was sent to the 13 states for consideration in 1777. It was a war-time confederation of states, with an extremely limited central government. The document made official some of the procedures used by Congress to conduct business, but many of the delegates realised the Articles had limitations.

Congress lacked the authority to regulate commerce, making it unable to protect or standardise trade between foreign nations and the various states. It also lacked the power to collect taxes to fund its operations. The Confederation relied on the voluntary efforts of the states to send tax money to the central government. Lacking funds, the central government couldn’t maintain an effective military or back its own paper currency.

The Articles also failed to provide for a chief executive capable of giving energy and focus to the new central government. The central government was supposed to be responsible for the "common defence, the security of their liberties and their mutual and general welfare", but it lacked the powers necessary to carry out those responsibilities.

The Articles required unanimous consent to any amendment, so all 13 states would need to agree on a change. Given the rivalries between the states, that rule made the Articles impossible to adapt after the war ended with Britain in 1783.

The Constitutional Convention of 1787 effectively ended the era of the Articles of Confederation. 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, leading proponents of the convention, including James Madison of Virginia and Alexander Hamilton of New York, sought to create a new frame of government rather than revise the existing one. The convention ultimately debated and ratified the Constitution of the United States, making it one of the most significant events in American history.

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The convention created a federal government

The Constitutional Convention, also known as the Federal Convention, the Philadelphia Convention, or the Grand Convention at Philadelphia, took place in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from May 25 to September 17, 1787. The convention was convened to address the problems of the weak central government that existed under the Articles of Confederation. The Articles of Confederation had been created by a confederation government that was facing a financial crisis and threats of disorder from dissatisfied farmers in western Massachusetts.

The convention was attended by 55 delegates from all states except Rhode Island. The delegates included many leading figures of the period, such as George Washington, James Madison, Benjamin Franklin, James Wilson, John Rutledge, Charles Pinckney, Oliver Ellsworth, and Gouverneur Morris. Washington was elected unanimously to preside over the convention, and his presence provided a sense of focus and direction. Madison, a driving force behind the convention, came well-prepared for all arguments and played a key role in the creation of the Constitution.

The convention debated and ratified the Constitution of the United States, establishing a federal government with more specific powers, including those related to conducting relations with foreign governments. The delegates 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. The legislative branch would make laws, the executive branch would provide leadership and enforce laws, and the judicial branch would explain and interpret laws.

The convention also addressed issues such as the nature of the American presidency, political representation, commerce, and slavery. The delegates debated the inclusion of a fugitive slave clause, the potential abolition of the slave trade, and whether enslaved individuals should be counted for purposes of proportional representation. The convention ultimately resulted in the creation of a new system of government, making it one of the most significant events in American history.

The final draft was signed on September 17, 1787

The Constitutional Convention, also known as the Federal Convention, the Philadelphia Convention, or the Grand Convention at Philadelphia, took place in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from May 25 to September 17, 1787. The convention was convened to address the problems of the weak central government that existed under the Articles of Confederation and to revise the league of states. However, the delegates ultimately decided to set aside the Articles of Confederation and create a new constitution.

George Washington, former commanding general of the Continental Army in the American Revolutionary War, was elected unanimously as the president of the convention. Washington's presence provided a sense of focus and direction, and he oversaw the debates and helped shape the vision of a stronger national government. The delegates included many leading figures of the period, such as James Madison, Benjamin Franklin, James Wilson, John Rutledge, Charles Pinckney, Oliver Ellsworth, and Gouverneur Morris.

The convention was marked by fierce debates and intense discussions. The delegates debated the nature of the American presidency, the political representation of states, and the inclusion of a fugitive slave clause. They also discussed the potential abolition of the slave trade and whether enslaved individuals should be counted for proportional representation. The role of the executive branch and the judicial branch was also hotly contested, with delegates debating the division of power, the impeachment process, and the selection of judges.

The final draft of the United States Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, by 39 members of the Constitutional Convention. This document established a federal government with more specific powers, including the authority to conduct relations with foreign governments. The Constitution also created a system of checks and balances, ensuring that no single branch of government would become more powerful than the others. The Constitution came into effect in 1789 after the necessary number of state ratifications and has served as the foundation of the United States government ever since.

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