The way of life of the people of the Thirteen Colonies was under such threat from the British that they went to war. Their victory in the Revolutionary War protected their way of life from the British but there remained a imminent threat. You see, the Thirteen States were different and each had its own way of life. This was a problem since if they could not be united, their way of life would remain under threat from other countries. The Thirteen States were bound by the Articles of Confederation, which had been created by the Second Continental Congress and agreed to by the states in 1781.
This previous constitution created a central government, but it was too weak to regulate the arguments between the states.
The Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia was organized to revise and strengthen the existing Articles of Confederation. However, rather than trying to fix the existing one, some wanted to create a new system of government.
The thirteen states followed the Articles of Confederation to unify them as one. Knowing that the articles were too weak, the Constitutional Convention was organized.
Constitutional Convention
The Constitutional Convention took place in Philadelphia from May 25 to September 17, 1787.
Men were appointed by each of the states to go to the meeting in the old Pennsylvania State House. It was agreed early at the Convention by most attending that the goal of the Convention was to create a new system of government rather than revising and strengthening the existing Articles of Confederation. Nearly 50 men were present at the meeting, representing all of the colonies. These men were well-educated and professional who were well-known in their states. Forty had been members of the Continental Congress, and eight had signed the Declaration of Independence.
The most famous American at the Convention was George Washington, who had won the respect of the entire nation as commander of the army, which had won our independence from Brittian. When it came to choosing the President of the Constitutional Convention, there was only one choice—George Washington. There were many who disagreed on the form that the new government should take, but George Washington was one man who had the respect of everyone. He could unite them into one cause as no one else could. During the Convention, Washington continually sought the aid of God on their behalf.
Sure there never was a people who had more reason to acknowledge a Divine interposition in their affairs than those of the United States; and I should be pained to believe that they have forgotten that agency, which was so often manifested during our revolution, or that they failed to consider the omnipotence of that God, who is alone able to protect them.
George Washington
Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin also played an important role at the Convention. At eighty-one, he was the oldest member present at the meetings. He was respected throughout the world for his knowledge and common sense. Because he was quite ill, he took no active part in the arguments that developed, but he gave good advice and cheered everyone with his witty remarks for which he had become famous. He is often referred to as the “Peacemaker of the Convention.” Many believe if it had not been for his presence, the Constitution might never have been finished.
James Madison
James Madison who was also a member of the Convention was perhaps the most influential member of the convention. He knew history and government well because he had studied the governments of many countries. He had also been a member of the government of Virginia. He took complete notes of everything that happened at the Convention and never missed a day. His records are the best we have to know what took place at the Convention. Because he played such an important part in the making of the Constitution, Madison is called the “Father of the Constitution.” On the basis of his studies, Madison, a representative of Virginia, proposed the Virginia Plan
The Virginia plan would set up three branches of government and would base representation on government on a state’s population. This would give states with large populations more power in the government. But William Paterson, a representative of New Jersey, proposed the New Jersey Plan, which would set up one branch of government and would provide for equal representation for all states no matter their population. These arguments delayed progress at the Convention for several weeks.
However, the Connecticut Compromise, proposed by Roger Sherman of Connecticut, overcame many disagreements. Also known as the “Great Compromise,” Sherman’s plan established three branches of government: (1) legislative, (2) executive, and (3) the judicial
The legislative branch would be made up of two parts, called “houses.” The compromise proposed that the number of representatives from each state in the lower house of the House of Representatives would be based upon the size of the population, but that each state would have two representatives in the upper house of the Senate. However, there was disagreement over the design and powers of each branch.
There was also much disagreement over whether the power of the Executive Branch should be with a single President or divided, as well as how a President would be elected and for how long the President could serve. Slavery was a further point of great disagreement. These arguments delayed progress at the Convention for several weeks.
A draft of the Constitution was written by what was called the Committee of Detail, and accepted by members of the Convention. Further changes and compromises were made in the following weeks before the Committee of Style and Arrangement produced a final version of the document.
