U.S Constitution

The first constitution of the United States was the Articles of Confederation.

James Madison, the “Father of the Constitution”, wanted a stronger and more unified government. He studied all of the republics in history and helped write the Federalist Papers in support of the new Constitution.

The Constitutional Convention was held in Philadelphia.

55 delegates from 12 states attended the Constitutional Convention. This group of men became known as the Framers.

George Washington, considered the “First among Equals” led the convention.

Doors and windows were closed, even in the hot and humid Philadelphia weather, to keep the proceedings secret.

James Madison proposed the Virginia Plan, which called for dividing the government into three branches and a two-house (bicameral) legislature (lawmaking body) based on each state’s population.

William Paterson proposed the New Jersey Plan, which called for one vote per state in a one-house (unicameral) legislature.

Roger Sherman proposed the Great Compromise which created a bicameral legislature, with one house based on population and the other house based on equal vote.

Southern states wanted to count slaves as part of their population, but the North opposed the idea because the South treated them like property.

The three-fifths Compromise resulted in the South counting only a portion of the slave population.

The Federalists supported ratification of the Constitution.

The Anti-Federalists opposed ratification of the Constitution and demanded that a Bill of Rights be added to the document.

The Constitution was signed by the Framers on September 17th 1777. After a bitter debate about ratification, it went into effect in 1789.

Benjamin Franklin, a Pennsylvanian and the oldest delegate at the convention, was instrumental in encouraging compromises among opposing groups. After the convention, a woman was said to have asked him,”What kind of government have you given us, Dr. Franklin?” His response, “A republic if you can keep it.”