The Constitutional Convention was held in Philadelphia in 1787 with 55 delegates from 12 states debating how to structure the new federal government. They proposed several plans, including the Virginia Plan which called for a strong central government with three branches, and the New Jersey Plan which proposed equal state representation in Congress. The delegates ultimately reached compromises, including the Great Compromise which created a bicameral legislature with proportional representation in the House and equal representation in the Senate. They also agreed to count enslaved people as 3/5 of a person for representation and not banning the international slave trade for 20 years.

1. Constitutional ConventionStaple Book

2. Constitutional ConventionPhiladelphia – May, 178755 delegates from 12 states Not Rhode IslandWashington elected presidentFranklin, Madison, Hamilton also presentMadison: Father of the Constitution

3. Constitutional ConventionSeptember 17, 1787: Constitution was signed by delegates3 delegates refused to sign:Randolph and Mason from VAElbridge Gerry from Mass.

4. Virginia PlanEdmund Randolph and James Madison created this planCalled for a strong central government3 branches:Legislative:Pass lawsExecutiveCarry out the lawsJudicialSystem of courts (enforce laws)

5. Virginia PlanLegislative Branch:2 houses, both had representation determined by populationBoth houses, the larger states had more representation

6. New Jersey PlanWilliam Paterson from New Jersey created this plan 3 branches:Legislative, Executive, JudicialLegislative Branch:One house, all states have equal representationOne vote per state, no matter how big

7. The Great CompromiseRoger Sherman of Connecticut created this planCompromise:A settlement that each side gives up some of its demands in order to reach an agreement2 House Legislature:House of Representatives:Lower houseElected by popular voteRepresentation determined by populationAppealed to larger states

8. The Great CompromiseSenate:Upper houseChosen by state legislatureEach state (no matter what size) gets 2 representativesAppealed to smaller statesApproved July 1787

9. The 3/5ths CompromiseSoutherners wanted slaves counted in the population to determine representation in the HouseThey would have a larger population, meaning more representatives, if the slaves were countedNortherners didn’t want this:Slaves don’t vote, therefore should not be represented by CongressCompromise:3/5ths of the slaves in any state will be counted in the population for Representation3,000 of 5,000

10. The Slave Trade CompromiseNorthern states wanted the slave trade to be banned in the whole nationBy 1787, some northern states had banned the slave tradeSouthern states did not:They said it would ruin their economyCompromise:Congress count not outlaw slave trade for at least 20 years (1807)Could regulate trade as they wished after thatNortherners agreed that no state could stop a slave from being returned to any owner that claimed the slave