The document summarizes the Constitutional Convention of 1787. It notes that 55 delegates from 12 states met in Philadelphia in May 1787, with George Washington elected as president. It describes the Virginia Plan created by Edmund Randolph and James Madison that called for a strong central government with three branches of government. It also describes the New Jersey Plan created by William Paterson that proposed a unicameral legislature with equal representation for states. A compromise was reached with the Connecticut Plan proposed by Roger Sherman, which created a bicameral legislature consisting of the House of Representatives based on population and the Senate with two members per state. The document also summarizes the Three-Fifths Compromise regarding counting slaves for representation.

2.  Philadelphia– May, 1787
 55 delegates from 12 states
 Not Rhode Island
 Washington elected president
 Franklin, Madison, Hamilton also present
 Madison: Father of the Constitution

3.  September 17, 1787:
 Constitution was signed by delegates
3 delegates refused to sign:
 Randolph and Mason from VA
 Elbridge Gerry from Mass.

4.  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)

5.  Legislative Branch:
 2 houses, both had representation determined
by population
 Both houses, the larger states had more
representation

6.  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

7.  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

8.  Senate:
 Upper house
 Chosen by state legislature
 Each state (no matter what size) gets 2
representatives
 Appealed to smaller states
 Approved July 1787

9.  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