AMSCO 3.8 — The Constitutional Convention and Debates Over Ratification

What was the major purpose of the Constitutional Convention?

To revise the Articles of Confederation, though many delegates intended to create a new government.

Where did the convention meet?

Philadelphia.

When did the Constitutional Convention take place?

Summer of 1787.

How many delegates attended the convention?

55.

What were all delegates in terms of race and gender?

White males.

What was the average age of the delegates?

Early forties.

What was the socioeconomic status of most delegates?

Wealthier than the average American.

How were the delegates professionally connected?

Many were lawyers or had helped write state constitutions.

Why were meetings held in secret?

To allow open debate without public pressure.

Who was unanimously chosen as chairperson of the convention?

George Washington.

Who provided a calming and unifying presence?

Benjamin Franklin.

Who became known as the “Father of the Constitution”?

James Madison.

Who were other key figures steering the convention?

Alexander Hamilton, Gouverneur Morris, and John Dickinson.

Which prominent revolutionaries were NOT present?

Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, John Jay, Samuel Adams, Thomas Paine, and Patrick Henry.

Why did Patrick Henry refuse to attend?

He opposed strengthening the federal government.

What was the first major disagreement at the convention?

Whether to revise the Articles or draft a new constitution.

What did the nationalists argue?

That a new constitution with a stronger central government was necessary.

What system did they believe in?

Federalism—a system dividing power between national and state governments.

What did most Americans fear in the 1780s?

Abusive or overly strong government.

How did Madison plan to reduce fears of centralized power?

By creating a separation of powers.

What is separation of powers?

Dividing powers among three branches of government.

What is the purpose of checks and balances?

To ensure no branch becomes too powerful.

What plan did Madison introduce for representation?

The Virginia Plan.

What did the Virginia Plan propose?

Representation in Congress based on population.

Which states supported the Virginia Plan?

Larger states.

What alternative plan did small states support?

The New Jersey Plan.

What did the New Jersey Plan propose?

Equal representation for all states regardless of size.

How was the dispute settled?

The Great Compromise (Connecticut Compromise).

What did the Great Compromise create?

A bicameral legislature.

How was representation determined in the House of Representatives?

By population.

How was representation determined in the Senate?

Equally, with two senators per state.

What issue did the Three-Fifths Compromise address?

How enslaved people would be counted for representation and taxation.

What did the Three-Fifths Compromise state?

Each enslaved person counted as three-fifths of a person.

What did the Commerce Compromise allow Congress to regulate?

Interstate and foreign commerce.

What trade action was Congress forbidden to take?

Ban the slave trade before 1808.

What did the slave trade clause do?

Allowed importing enslaved Africans for 20 more years.

What did delegates decide about the presidency?

A single executive chosen indirectly.

How long was the president’s term?

Four years.

What body elects the president?

The Electoral College.

Why did the framers create the Electoral College?

They didn’t trust masses to directly elect the president.

What powers were given to the president?

Veto power, commander-in-chief, and ability to appoint officials.

What did the convention require for ratification of the Constitution?

Approval by nine of thirteen states in special conventions.

Why not use state legislatures for ratification?

They would resist losing power to the federal government.

Who were the supporters of the Constitution?

Federalists.

What did Federalists argue?

A stronger central government was needed to maintain order.

Who opposed the Constitution?

Anti-Federalists.

What did Anti-Federalists fear?

A tyrannical central government and loss of individual rights.

Which two key Anti-Federalist writers used pseudonyms?

Brutus and Cato.

Who wrote The Federalist Papers?

Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay.

What was the purpose of The Federalist Papers?

To persuade states to ratify the Constitution.

Which important states delayed ratification?

Virginia and New York.

What promise helped secure their support?

Adding a bill of rights.

When was the Constitution officially ratified?

1788

When did the new government begin?

1789