Download Unit 2 - Lesson 9

Unit Two: Lesson Nine
How was the
Philadelphia Convention
Organized?
Who Attended the
Philadelphia Convention?
• 55 Delegates attended what would later be known as the
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION
• Delegates were appointed by their state legislatures (each state
one vote)
• 22-81 years old
• ¾ had served in Congress
• Most were prominent in their states
• Some had played a big role in the Revolution
• Some were wealthy but most were not
What important Founders DID NOT
attend the Convention?
• Thomas Jefferson
• John Adams
• Patrick Henry
* John Hancock
* Samuel Adams
* Richard Henry Lee
• Some stayed away because they feared what a stronger central government
would mean to this new young nation
• Some were away on assignment for their country
• Rhode Island refused to attend because many leaders were not there &
because they believed, as a very small state, their voice would be overlooked
• Rhode Island believed that, by not attending, they could block any action
because all had to agree on any changes
What rules did the Delegates adopt
for the Convention?
• George Washington elected president of the Convention
• Rules were drawn up for the meeting
▫ Delegates from at least 7 states had to be present for the convention to
do official business (quorum)
▫ When speaking, a delegate had to address the president. No one else
could speak, pass notes, hold conversations with others, or read anything
▫ A delegate could not speak more than twice on the same question
▫ Committees would be appointed as needed
▫ Any decision made could be revisited. The entire document would be
voted on at the end. Until then, nothing was final
▫ The proceedings were to remain SECRET. They could take notes but not
share them with anyone outside the Convention for 20 years. (James
Madison credited with taking great notes which give us insight into what
actually occurred behind closed doors)
Main Purpose for the
Constitutional Convention
• “FIX” the Articles of Confederation
• Create a totally new form of government
▫ Favoring the Larger States
▫ Favoring the Smaller States
What rules did the Delegates adopt
for the Convention?
• 4 critical committees created to suggest solutions to
difficult issues
 1. Committee to decide representation in Congress
 2. Committee on writing the Constitution, including an
Executive and Judicial Branch
 3. Committee on how to elect a national president
 4. Committee on Style to prepare the final language of
the document
The Virginia Plan
• Many delegates came to the Convention not to fix the Articles of
Confederation but to create a new government with a stronger
central government
• Virginia (James Madison) put forth a plan based around a STRONG
CENTRAL GOVERNMENT
• Each person would be under the authority of 2 governments, federal
and state.
• This type of system is a FEDERAL SYSTEM
The Virginia Plan
• 3 branches of the government
 Legislature most powerful because it would select those to serve in the
Executive and Judicial branches
• Congress would be bicameral
 HofR elected by the people directly
 Senate chosen by HorR based on list nominated by the state legislatures.
This would have an elite class with power
• Representation based on population or contribution
• Congress had power to make laws that states could not make
ie-trade between states
• Congress would have the power to strike down state laws that
violate the Constitution or go against national interests
very controversial as many still believed states were sovereign
• Congress has power to call up the military against a state, if
necessary, to enforce laws passed by Congress
Review
• Describe the delegates to the Constitutional
Convention. What noted political leaders attended?
Which were absent and why?
• Why did Rhode Island refuse to participate in the
Philadelphia Convention?
• How did the Virginia Plan propose to change the
structure and powers of the national government?