CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION

CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION Philadelphia – May, 1787 55 delegates from 12 states

Not Rhode Island Washington elected president Franklin, Madison, Hamilton also present Madison: Father of the Constitution

CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION September 17, 1787:

Constitution was signed by delegates 3 delegates refused to sign:

Randolph and Mason from VAElbridge Gerry from Mass.

VIRGINIA PLAN Edmund Randolph and James

Madison created this plan Called for a strong central

government 3 branches:

Legislative: Pass laws

Executive Carry out the laws

Judicial System of courts (enforce laws)

VIRGINIA PLAN Legislative Branch:

2 houses, both had representation determined by population

Both houses, the larger states had more representation

NEW JERSEY PLAN William Paterson from New Jersey

created this plan 3 branches:

Legislative, Executive, Judicial Legislative Branch:

One house, all states have equal representation

One vote per state, no matter how big

THE GREAT COMPROMISE Roger Sherman of Connecticut created

this plan Compromise:

A settlement that each side gives up some of its demands in order to reach an agreement

2 House Legislature:House of Representatives:

Lower house Elected by popular vote Representation determined by population Appealed to larger states

THE GREAT COMPROMISESenate:

Upper house Chosen by state legislature Each state (no matter what size) gets 2

representatives Appealed to smaller states

Approved July 1787

THE 3/5THS COMPROMISE Southerners wanted slaves counted in

the population to determine representation in the House They would have a larger population, meaning

more representatives, if the slaves were counted Northerners didn’t want this:

Slaves don’t vote, therefore should not be represented by Congress

Compromise:3/5ths of the slaves in any state will be

counted in the population for Representation 3,000 of 5,000