What was the purpose of the Constitutional Convention?
Constitutional Convention, (1787), in U.S. history, convention that drew up the Constitution of the United States.
What did the Constitutional Convention of 1787 decide?
On July 23, the convention decided that each state should have two senators rather than three. It rejected a proposal by Luther Martin of Maryland that senators from the same state cast a single joint vote, which was the practice in the Confederation Congress.
How did delegates decide to submit the Constitution to state conventions?
He considered the Articles of Confederation to be a mere treaty among the states, but a true constitution could only be adopted by the people themselves. By a vote of nine to one, the delegates voted to submit the Constitution to state conventions.
What is a state constitutional convention Quizlet?
A state constitutional convention is a gathering of elected delegates who propose revisions and amendments to a state constitution. As of 2021, 233 constitutional conventions to deliberate on state-level constitutions have been held in the United States.
What did each state want in the Constitutional Convention?
One of the major compromises in the Constitutional Convention was between the small states and big states. The small states wanted each state to have the same number of representatives in Congress. The big states wanted representation based on population.
What did large states want at the Constitutional Convention?
Large states favored representation by population, while small states argued for equal representation by State. The "Great Compromise" allowed for both by establishing the House of Representatives, which was apportioned by populations, and the Senate which represented the states equally.
Was each state represented at the Constitutional Convention?
On May 25, 1787, delegates representing every state except Rhode Island convened at Philadelphia's Pennsylvania State House for the Constitutional Convention.
How was each state supposed to be represented according to the Great Compromise?
Under the Great Compromise, each state would get two representatives in the Senate and a variable number of representatives in the House in proportion to its population according to the decennial U.S. census.
Why did large states favor the Virginia Plan?
The Virginia Plan was supported by the larger states because of the resolution for proportional representation. This meant that the more people a state has, the more representatives it gets in the legislature.
What did the Virginia Plan supported the idea of?
Introduced to the Constitutional ConventionConstitutional ConventionFederal Convention, a gathering to consider reforming a Frame of Government, may refer to any convention called under the authority of a central government; such as: Constitutional Convention (United States) (1787), the convention where the United States Constitution was written, also called the Philadelphia Convention.https://en.wikipedia.org › Federal_Convention_(disambiguation)Federal Convention (disambiguation) - Wikipedia in 1787, James Madison's Virginia Plan outlined a strong national government with three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial. The plan called for a legislature divided into two bodies (the Senate and the House of Representatives) with proportional representation.
What did 9 of the 13 states have to do for the Constitution to be approved?
Nine states needed to vote for the Constitution for it to be accepted. Each state was given six months to meet and vote on the proposed Constitution. On December 7, 1787, Delaware was the first state to vote in favor of, or ratify, it.
What state was not represented at the convention?
Rhode Island2. Rhode Island boycotted the Constitutional ConventionConstitutional ConventionFederal Convention, a gathering to consider reforming a Frame of Government, may refer to any convention called under the authority of a central government; such as: Constitutional Convention (United States) (1787), the convention where the United States Constitution was written, also called the Philadelphia Convention.https://en.wikipedia.org › Federal_Convention_(disambiguation)Federal Convention (disambiguation) - Wikipedia. America's littlest state had a big independence streak. Rhode Island, distrustful of a powerful federal government, was the only one of the 13 original states to refuse to send delegates to the Constitutional Convention.
Which state was not represented at the Constitutional Convention?
Rhode IslandRhode Island was the only state not to send delegates to the Constitutional ConventionConstitutional ConventionFederal Convention, a gathering to consider reforming a Frame of Government, may refer to any convention called under the authority of a central government; such as: Constitutional Convention (United States) (1787), the convention where the United States Constitution was written, also called the Philadelphia Convention.https://en.wikipedia.org › Federal_Convention_(disambiguation)Federal Convention (disambiguation) - Wikipedia in 1787.
How was each state supposed to be represented according to the Great Compromise quizlet?
Each state would have the same number of representatives, regardless of population. This compromise created a two-part Congress including a House of Representatives, with the number of representatives based on population and a Senate, with equal representation for each state.
Why were small states concerned about the issue of representation?
Smaller states with lower populations argued that such an arrangement would lead to an unfair dominance of larger states in the new nation's government, and each state should have equal representation, regardless of population.
How did the Great Compromise offer a solution to both large and small states?
The Great Compromise was a solution where both large and small states would be fairly represented by creating two houses of Congress. In the House of Representatives, each state would be assigned seats in proportion to the size of its population. In the Senate, each state would have two delegates regardless of size.
What was the subject of the most debate between large and small states at the Constitutional Convention quizlet?
What was the subject of the most debate between large and small states at the Constitutional ConventionConstitutional ConventionFederal Convention, a gathering to consider reforming a Frame of Government, may refer to any convention called under the authority of a central government; such as: Constitutional Convention (United States) (1787), the convention where the United States Constitution was written, also called the Philadelphia Convention.https://en.wikipedia.org › Federal_Convention_(disambiguation)Federal Convention (disambiguation) - Wikipedia? Why did the Great Compromise and the Three-Fifths Compromise involve so much debate and discussion at the Constitutional Convention? Each state was most concerned for its own interests and needs.
How did the Great Compromise satisfy both small and large states?
The Great Compromise was a solution where both large and small states would be fairly represented by creating two houses of Congress. In the House of Representatives, each state would be assigned seats in proportion to the size of its population. In the Senate, each state would have two delegates regardless of size.
In which of the following ways did large states not take advantage of smaller states?
In which of the following ways did large states NOT take advantage of smaller states? Large states used larger armies to demand tribute money from smaller states.
Why did some people want representation to be based on population?
Large Sates (= States with with large populations) feared that their diverse needs would NOT be met with only representative in congress. They wanted representation to be based on a state's population (ie. for every group of 1000 people a state would get 1 delegate in congress.
What is the Constitution of Idaho?
Idaho: Article XX of the Idaho Constitution says that a constitutional convention can be called if two-thirds of the members of each house of the Idaho State Legislature vote to place before the people a question as to whether the people want to call a convention.
How often is a constitutional convention held in New Hampshire?
Starting in 1792, New Hampshire required that a mandatory vote on whether to hold a constitutional convention take place every seven years.
What is the question that the state legislature can put on the ballot?
In some states, the state legislature can act to place on the ballot a question asking the voters whether they wish to call a convention. These states vary with respect to: What percentage of those in the state legislature must vote to place such a question on the ballot.
How often does a ballot ask for a convention?
In some states, a ballot measure asking the people to approve or disapprove of holding a convention appears automatically on the ballot every ten or (in some states) twenty years.
What is the Colorado Constitution?
Colorado: Article XIX of the Colorado Constitution says that the Colorado General Assembly by a two-thirds vote of each chamber (the Colorado House of Representatives and the Colorado State Senate) can place a measure on the ballot asking the state's voters if they want a constitutional convention.
How many constitutional conventions will be held in 2021?
A state constitutional convention is a gathering of elected delegates who propose revisions and amendments to a state constitution. As of 2021, 233 constitutional conventions to deliberate on state-level constitutions have been held in the United States.
When was the last time Alaskans voted on whether to hold a constitutional convention?
The last time Alaskans voted on whether to hold a constitutional convention was in 2012 via Ballot Measure 1. It was rejected with 67% of voters opposed.
How many delegates were there at the Annapolis Convention?
All the states except Rhode Island responded to an invitation issued by the Annapolis Convention of 1786 to send delegates. Of the 74 deputies chosen by the state legislatures, only 55 took part in the proceedings; of these, 39 signed the Constitution. The delegates included many of the leading figures of the period.
What was the Constitutional Convention?
Constitutional Convention, (1787), in U.S. history, convention that drew up the Constitution of the United States. Stimulated by severe economic troubles, which produced radical political movements such as Shays’s Rebellion, and urged on by a demand for a stronger central government, the convention met in the Pennsylvania State House in ...
What was the controversy over the abolition of the importation of slaves?
Controversy over the abolition of the importation of slaves ended with the agreement that importation should not be forbidden before 1808. The powers of the federal executive and judiciary were enumerated, and the Constitution was itself declared to be the “supreme law of the land.”.
Why was the Philadelphia Convention called for?
The Philadelphia Convention, which met in May 1787, was officially called for by the old Congress solely to remedy defects in the Articles of Confederation. But the Virginia Plan presented by the Virginia delegates went beyond revision and boldly proposed to introduce a…
When was the Constitution written?
The Constitution was written during the summer of 1787 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by 55 delegates to a Constitutional Convention that was called ostensibly to amend the Articles of Confederation (1781–89), the country’s first written constitution. The Constitution was the product of political compromise…
What is the encyclopedia Britannica?
United States history [1787] Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. ...
Which plan provided for a bicameral legislature with representation of each state based on its population or wealth?
Edmund Randolph offered a plan known as the Virginia, or large state, plan, which provided for a bicameral legislature with representation of each state based on its population or wealth. William Paterson proposed the New Jersey, or small state, plan, which provided for equal representation in Congress.
Why was the Constitutional Convention called?
The Constitutional Convention was called in May of 1787 to make revisions to the Articles of Confederation. George Washington was immediately named the convention's president. The articles had been shown since their adoption to be very weak.
How did the Three Fifths compromise work?
The Three-Fifths Compromise worked out how enslaved people should be counted for representation. It counted every five enslaved individuals as three people in terms of representation. The Commerce and Slave Trade Compromise promised that Congress would not tax the export of goods from any state and would not interfere with the trade of enslaved people for at least 20 years.
How did the Great Compromise solve the problem of representation?
The Great Compromise solved how representation should be determined in Congress by combining the Virginia Plan, which called for representation based on population, and the New Jersey Plan, which called for equal representation. The Three-Fifths Compromise worked out how enslaved people should be counted for representation.
What is the Constitution based on?
The Constitution itself was based on many great political writings, including the Baron de Montesquieu's "The Spirit of the Law," Jean Jacques Rousseau's " Social Contract ," and John Locke's "Two Treatises of Government." Much of the Constitution also came from what was originally written in the Articles of Confederation along with other state constitutions.
Which states did not participate in the Constitutional Convention?
Twelve of the 13 original states participated by sending delegates to the Constitutional Convention. The only state that did not participate was Rhode Island, as it was against the idea of a stronger federal government. Further, New Hampshire delegates did not reach Philadelphia and participate until July 1787.
Who refused to sign the Constitution?
Forty-one delegates were present. 2 However, three refused to sign the proposed Constitution: Edmund Randolph (who later supported ratification), Elbridge Gerry, and George Mason. 2
Who is Martin Kelly?
Martin Kelly, M.A., is a history teacher and curriculum developer. He is the author of "The Everything American Presidents Book" and "Colonial Life: Government.". The Constitutional Convention was called in May of 1787 to make revisions to the Articles of Confederation.
Why did the Delegates keep their deliberations secret?
To encourage delegates to make arguments without fear of recrimination and to discourage mob action in the city, those in attendance kept their deliberations secret during their lifetimes and did not inform the public of the resulting document until September 17, after most of the delegates had signed on to it.
How many representatives were in the Constitutional Convention?
The meeting, over which George Washington presided, rested on the reasoned dialogue and compromise of 55 representatives from the 13 original states, except Rhode Island. To encourage delegates to make arguments without fear of recrimination and to discourage mob action in the city, ...
Why did the five states meet in Annapolis in September 1786?
Delegates from five states who met in Annapolis in September 1786 to treat problems of interstate commerce called for a broader convention the following May. Partly prodded by the threat of Shay’s rebellion — an uprising of economically depressed farmers in Massachusetts that winter — the states responded affirmatively.
What is the purpose of the Constitution?
The Constitution created a governmental structure designed to protect rights through a separation of powers, checks and balances, federalism, and other mechanisms. Hence, in Federalist no. 84, Alexander Hamilton argues that “the Constitution is itself, in every rational sense, and to every useful purpose a Bill of Right s.”
What was the purpose of the Articles of Confederation?
Articles of Confederation gave too much power to the states. At the time of the convention, the Articles of Confederation, under which states wielded primary power, was the nation’s governing document. Article 2 specifically recognized the sovereignty of the states, and the federal government’s powers were mostly limited to foreign affairs ...
How many days does the President have to veto a law?
By exempting Sunday from the 10 days counted in the time that a president has to veto a law, the document arguably recognizes in Article 1, section 7, that many Americans worship on that day.
Why did George Mason oppose the Bill of Rights?
In the closing days of the convention, however, George Mason cited the omission of a separate bill of rights to protect the people against the new national government as one of his reasons for opposing the new document. This quickly became a rallying point for those who opposed ratification.
What was the Great Compromise of 1787?
The Great Compromise of 1787, also known as the Sherman Compromise, was an agreement reached during the Constitutional Convention of 1787 between delegates of the states with large and small populations that defined the structure of Congress and the number of representatives each state would have in Congress according to the United States Constitution. Under the agreement proposed by Connecticut delegate Roger Sherman, Congress would be a “bicameral” or two-chambered body, with each state getting a number of representatives in the lower chamber (the House) proportional to its population and two representatives in the upper chamber (the Senate).
How did the 1787 compromise affect modern politics?
How the 1787 Compromise Impacts Modern Politics. While the populations of the states varied in 1787, the differences were far less pronounced than they are today. For example, the 2020 population of Wyoming at 549,914 pales in comparison to California’s 39.78 million.
How many representatives did each state get under the Great Compromise?
Under the Great Compromise, each state would get two representatives in the Senate and a variable number of representatives in the House in proportion to its population according to the decennial U.S. census. Perhaps the greatest debate undertaken by the delegates to the Constitutional Convention in 1787 centered on how many representatives each ...
What was the greatest debate in 1787?
Perhaps the greatest debate undertaken by the delegates to the Constitutional Convention in 1787 centered on how many representatives each state should have in the new government's lawmaking branch, the U.S. Congress. As is often the case in government and politics, resolving a great debate required a great compromise—in this case, ...
How many members of the House of Representatives were elected in 1790?
The process of fairly determining the number of members of the House from each state is called " apportionment .". The first census in 1790 counted 4 million Americans. Based on that count, the total number of members elected to the House of Representatives grew from the original 65 to 106.
What did the smaller states argue about?
Delegates from the smaller states argued that, despite their lower populations, their states held equal legal status to that of the larger states, and that proportional representation would be unfair to them. Delegate Gunning Bedford, Jr. of Delaware notoriously threatened that the small states could be forced to “find some foreign ally of more honor and good faith, who will take them by the hand and do them justice.”
What was the Constitutional Convention?
Early in the Constitutional Convention, delegates envisioned a Congress consisting of only a single chamber with a certain number of representatives from each state.
Overview
Operations and procedures
Originally planned to begin on May 14, the convention had to be postponed when very few of the selected delegates were present on that day due to the difficulty of travel in the late 18th century. On May 14, only delegates from Virginia and Pennsylvania were present. It was not until May 25 that a quorum of seven states was secured and the convention could begin inside the Pennsylva…
Historical context
During the American Revolution, the thirteen American states replaced their colonial governments with republican constitutions based on the principle of separation of powers, organizing government into legislative, executive and judicial branches. These revolutionary constitutions endorsed legislative supremacy by placing most power in the legislature—since it was viewed as m…
Madison's blueprint
James Madison of Virginia arrived in Philadelphia eleven days early and determined to set the convention's agenda. Before the convention, Madison studied republics and confederacies throughout history, such as ancient Greece and contemporary Switzerland. In April 1787, he drafted a document titled, "Vices of the Political System of the United States," which systematically evalu…
Early debates
While waiting for the convention to formally begin, Madison sketched out his initial proposal, which became known as the Virginia Plan and reflected his views as a strong nationalist. The Virginia and Pennsylvania delegates agreed with Madison's plan and formed what came to be the predominant coalition within the convention. The plan was modeled on the state governments and was writ…
Apportionment
On several occasions, the Connecticut delegation—Roger Sherman, Oliver Ellsworth and William Samuel Johnson—proposed a compromise that the House would have proportional representation and the Senate equal representation. A version of this compromise had originally been crafted and proposed by Sherman on June 11. He agreed with Madison that the Senate should be comp…
Other issues
On July 17, the delegates worked to define the powers of Congress. The Virginia Plan asserted the supremacy of the national government, giving Congress authority "to legislate in all cases to which the separate States are incompetent" and stating that congressional legislation would take precedence over conflicting state laws. In a motion introduced by Gunning Bedford, the Convention approved this provision with only South Carolina and Georgia voting against. Four s…
First draft
The Convention adjourned from July 26 to August 6 to await the report of the Committee of Detail, which was to produce a first draft of the Constitution. It was chaired by John Rutledge, with the other members including Edmund Randolph, Oliver Ellsworth, James Wilson, and Nathaniel Gorham.
Though the committee did not record minutes of its proceedings, three key surviving documents offer clues to the committee's handiwork: an outline by Randolph with edits by Rutledge, extensi…
Majority Vote of Legislature and Voter Approval
Supermajority Vote of Legislature and Voter Approval
- Three-fifths (60%) supermajority vote
1. Illinois: Under Article XIV of the Illinois Constitution, a question about whether to hold a constitutional convention can be placed before the state's voters if 60% of the members of both houses of the Illinois General Assemblyvote in the affirmative. If such a question does appear o… - Two-thirds (66.67%) supermajority vote
1. California: A constitutional convention can occur in California if a two-thirds majority of the members of both houses of the California State Legislature vote to put the question to a statewide vote of the people, who must then approve the question by a simple majority. Californi…
Supermajority Legislative Vote with No Voter Approval Requirement
- Georgia: According to Paragraph IV of Article X of the Georgia Constitution, a constitutional convention can occur in Georgia if a two-thirds majority of the members of both houses of the Georgia G...
Initiative Petition onto Ballot
- Arizona: Article 21 of the Arizona Constitution allows the state legislature to call a constitutional convention, though "laws providing for such Convention shall first be approved by the people on...
States That Don't Provide For Conventions
- Seven states—Arkansas, Indiana, Mississippi, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Vermont—do not provide for constitutional conventions. 1. Pennsylvania: The Pennsylvania Constitution does not lay out the rules for how a constitutional convention can be called but, nevertheless, the state has held five such conventions, most recently in 1968 when the current constitution was adopte…
Convention Aftermath
- Once a constitutional convention has been held, the results will typically be put to the electorate for consideration. Voters may be asked to approve a single new or revised constitution, such as what happened in Arkansas in 1970. Voters may be asked to approve a set of constitutional amendments, such as happened in Ohio in 1912. Voters may also be asked to vote on related is…
See Also