Download The Road to the Constitution

The Road to the Constitution
Articles of Confederation lasted for
appx. 12 years
Different Views for New
Government
Some thought that all 13 states should
combine into one large state with one
central government
Some thought that states should
receive as much power as possiblefavored the federal system
(government divided between the
national and state governments)
The Constitutional Convention
Attended by 55 delegates from 12 states
(Rhode Island opposed a strong central
government)
Originally assembled to revise the Articles
of Confederation
Instead, delegates decided to write a new
constitution, favoring a strong central
government
The Delegates
All white men
Professional or business people
More than half were under 40
Very educated in philosophy,
economics, and politics (about half
were college graduates)
Most had experience with government
Key Figures
Benjamin Franklin and Alexander
Hamilton- delegates of the
convention
George Washington- presided over
the convention
Thomas Jefferson- (not at the
convention) ambassador to France
Key Decisions
Each state would have one vote at the
convention, regardless of the number of
delegates for the state
Simple majority vote (seven) would decide
any issue
All convention work would be keep in
secret
Only written details were kept by James
Madison