The Constitution: A Diverse Delegate Slate

The Constitutional Convention, also known as the Federal Convention, the Philadelphia Convention, or the Grand Convention at Philadelphia, was a gathering of delegates from the original 13 colonies (except Rhode Island) that took place in 1787. 70 individuals were appointed to the convention, but only 55 attended the sessions, and of those, only 39 signed the Constitution. The delegates were both young and experienced, with an average age of 42. The convention was originally intended to revise the Articles of Confederation, but the delegates ultimately created a new system of government with three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial. The convention was marked by intense debates and compromises on issues such as the role of the executive, slavery, and proportional representation. The final draft of the Constitution was printed in several copies for review and was also published in newspapers for public scrutiny.

Explore related products

The Constitutional Convention: A Narrative History from the Notes of James Madison (Modern Library Classics)

$13.65 $22

Miracle At Philadelphia: The Story of the Constitutional Convention May - September 1787

$10.55 $19.99

The Anti-Federalist Papers and the Constitutional Convention Debates (Signet Classics)

$8.32 $8.95

The Constitutional Convention: A History Just for Kids

$13.99 $13.99

The Constitution of the United States and The Declaration of Independence

$1.99 $6.95

The Constitutional Convention of 1787: Constructing the American Republic (Reacting to the Past™)

$28.49 $32.5

The Articles of Confederation's weaknesses

The Articles of Confederation, adopted during the American Revolution, represented the United States' first attempt at a national government. However, the Articles' weaknesses in foreign policy and governance created significant challenges, threatening the Union with disintegration. Here are some key weaknesses:

Lack of a Strong Central Government

The Articles of Confederation lacked a strong central governing body, which hindered the United States' ability to effectively conduct foreign affairs and maintain sovereignty. Each state retained significant autonomy, often leading to conflicting policies and a weakened position in global markets.

Limited Congressional Powers

Congress under the Articles had restricted powers. It could not levy taxes or tariffs and relied on voluntary contributions from states to fund its operations. This lack of fiscal authority extended to the inability to regulate commerce and trade, making it challenging to protect domestic industries and standardize trade policies with foreign nations. Congress also lacked the power to enforce its treaties and negotiations, leading to prolonged disputes and strained relations with other countries, particularly Britain.

Legislative Inefficiencies

The legislative process was cumbersome due to the requirement of unanimous ratification by all thirteen states for amendments and the approval of nine states for important legislation. With frequent absences among delegations, a single state could effectively veto significant legislative proposals. This dynamic often hindered the passage of vital laws and slowed down the decision-making process.

Difficulty in Addressing Regional and National Interests

The Articles of Confederation struggled to balance regional and national interests effectively. For example, negotiations with Spain over access to the Mississippi River highlighted the challenges of accommodating the diverse needs of different regions within the Confederation.

Embarrassing Imperfections

The Articles of Confederation also suffered from imperfections that proved embarrassing. For instance, Congress could negotiate treaties, but these treaties required ratification by the individual states. This dynamic sometimes prolonged the treaty process and raised doubts among foreign nations about the reliability of agreements with the Confederation.

To address these weaknesses, delegates from various states convened in Philadelphia in 1787 to revise the Articles of Confederation, ultimately leading to the drafting of a new Constitution that established a stronger federal government with enhanced powers to address the challenges facing the young nation.

The Virginia Plan

The plan was presented as fifteen draft resolutions outlining basic principles of government, including the need for a national government and the structure of the legislature. It was a response to the problems facing the Confederation, such as Shays' Rebellion in Massachusetts, which threatened anarchy due to weak government. The Virginia Plan set the agenda for debate at the Convention, particularly the idea of population-weighted representation in the proposed national legislature, which favoured large states.

The New Jersey Plan

The United States' original states, except Rhode Island, appointed 70 individuals as delegates to the Constitutional Convention, though only 55 attended. The delegates ranged in age from 26 to 81, with an average age of 42. Many of the delegates were young and experienced.

The Constitutional Convention, also known as the Federal Convention, the Philadelphia Convention, or the Grand Convention at Philadelphia, was held in 1787. The convention's purpose was to discuss improvements to the existing Articles of Confederation, which governed the United States at the time. However, once the convention began, most delegates agreed that the goal would be to create a new system of government.

Several plans for the new government were proposed at the convention, including Madison's Virginia Plan and William Paterson's New Jersey Plan. The New Jersey Plan, introduced on June 15, 1787, was designed to benefit small states and consisted of nine resolutions:

• The Articles of Confederation should be revised to address the needs of the government and the preservation of the Union.
• The Confederation Congress should be authorized to raise funds through import duties, stamp taxes, and postage, with tax evaders tried in state courts and appeals going to a Federal judiciary.
• The three-fifths rule, whereby three-fifths of the number of enslaved people in a state would be counted for determining its population and Congress's funding requests.
• An executive branch should be established, consisting of multiple individuals who could be removed by a majority vote of the states.
• A Federal judiciary should be appointed by the executive branch to hear impeachments and appeals.
• Acts of Congress made under the Articles of Confederation should be upheld as the supreme law, with state judges bound to follow them.
• Provisions should be made for admitting new states into the Union.
• A uniform rule of naturalization should be established.
• Citizens of each state should be treated equally in state criminal courts.

Explore related products

Constitution of the United States and The Declaration of Independence: Senator Rand Paul, Delegates of The Constitutional Convention

$2.99 $2.99

Notes of Debates in the Federal Convention of 1787

$35 $34.99

Decision in Philadelphia: The Constitutional Convention of 1787

$18 $18

The Selling of the Constitutional Convention: A History of News Coverage (Culture)

$44.73 $52

Madison’s Hand: Revising the Constitutional Convention

$26 $26

The Constitutional Convention: Core Documents

$0.99

Compromises and disagreements

The Constitutional Convention, also known as the Federal Convention, the Philadelphia Convention, or the Grand Convention at Philadelphia, was convened to revise the Articles of Confederation, which had established the first national government in the United States. However, the convention ultimately resulted in the drafting of a new constitution. The convention was attended by 55 delegates, with an average age of 42, ranging from 26-year-old Jonathan Dayton to 81-year-old Benjamin Franklin.

The convention witnessed several compromises and disagreements among the delegates, who represented different states and interests. One of the key disagreements centred on the role of the executive. Delegates debated whether executive power should be divided among three people or vested in a single chief executive, who would be called the President. They also discussed how a president would be elected, the length and number of presidential terms, what offences should be impeachable, and whether judges should be chosen by the legislature or the executive.

Another highly contentious issue was slavery, with delegates debating 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 devoted a significant amount of time to resolving these matters, and progress was slow until the Connecticut Compromise in mid-July, which resolved enough lingering arguments to allow a draft written by the Committee of Detail to gain acceptance.

The convention also saw debates between two competing proposals: Madison's Virginia Plan and William Paterson's New Jersey Plan. The Virginia Plan advocated for a strong central government based on popular consent and proportional representation, with a bicameral legislature, a separate executive, and a judiciary branch with national jurisdiction. On the other hand, the New Jersey Plan favoured retaining the essential features of the Articles of Confederation, including a unicameral legislature with equal representation for all states, a plural executive, and a supreme court of limited jurisdiction. After debating these proposals from May to July 1787, the convention turned them over to a Grand Committee, whose report, dubbed the Great Compromise, resolved many contentious points. The final version of the Constitution was produced by the Committee of Style in early September and signed by 39 of the 55 delegates on September 17, 1787.

Ratification

The ratification of the US Constitution was a highly contested process, with Anti-Federalists arguing against its adoption. The Anti-Federalists were a late-18th-century political movement that opposed the creation of a stronger federal government and the concentration of power in the hands of Congress, believing that it would be oppressive and lead to tyranny. They preferred a vision of America rooted in powerful states, with political power remaining at the state and local levels.

The Anti-Federalists, led by Patrick Henry of Virginia, also worried that the position of president might evolve into a monarchy, resembling the British government they had recently separated from. They believed that the Constitution needed a Bill of Rights to protect individual liberties and ensure that power not given to the federal government was reserved for the states and the people.

The Federalists, on the other hand, supported ratification and argued for a stronger national government. They contended that a conditional ratification would be void, and they framed the debate as a choice between the new Constitution and the flawed Articles of Confederation. The Federalists had a plan with the new Constitution, while the Anti-Federalists did not, making it easier for the Federalists to gain support for ratification.

The battle over ratification played out in state legislatures across the country, with Anti-Federalists in Massachusetts, Virginia, and New York making ratification contingent on a Bill of Rights. The Federalists, including Alexander Hamilton, worked to convince the states to ratify the Constitution. Hamilton's persuasive abilities and logic played a critical role in gaining support for ratification, particularly in New York, where the Federalists faced strong opposition from Anti-Federalists.

Despite the efforts of the Anti-Federalists, they were ultimately unsuccessful in preventing the adoption of the Constitution. However, their influence was not entirely in vain. The debates during the ratification process highlighted the importance of freedom of speech and press in achieving national consensus. Additionally, the Anti-Federalists' advocacy for a Bill of Rights led to the enactment of 10 constitutional amendments, known today as the Bill of Rights, which protect the basic rights and privileges of American citizens.

Frequently asked questions