A Convention Called for the Purpose

of Strengthening the Confederation

OR

The Constitutional ConventionMay 25, 1787 – September 17, 1787

The FramersMany had served in the Confederation Congress

A small number were army veterans

Not the same group that had signed the Declaration

Thomas Jefferson was serving as Minister to France

John Adams was serving as Minister to Great Britain

Rhode Island doesn’t send anyone

Sam Adams is ill

Patrick Henry refuses to come saying he smelled a rat in Philadelphia tending toward monarchy

In most cases this is not a great ongoing philosophical or theoretical debate

It does consist of arguments relating to the writings of Locke; and of the philosophies of Montesquieu and Hobbes; Blackstone for law

But this is a practical, nuts and bolts, “how do we run our states and the country and NOT cause another revolution, or a collapse of the government?”

In other words “How do we create a government that provides and protects liberty without threatening liberty?”

Shay’s Rebellion—Army veterans losing their homes/land because of taxes they could not pay

GC

The Virginia Plan

4.Strong national government organized into three branches 2. Two houses in legislature3. Executive chosen by legislature8.Council of revision (executive and some judiciary branch members) with veto power5. Two key features of the plana. National legislature with supreme powers b. One legislative house elected directly by the people

The New Jersey Plan

4.Sought to amend rather than replace Articles 2. Proposed one vote per state7.Protected small states' interests while enhancing power of national government

The Great CompromiseConnecticut Compromise

4.House of Representatives based on population and directly elected by people 2. Senate of two members per state and elected by state legislatures3. Reconciled interests of large and small states