Chapter 3 Section 2 Flashcards
Describe the backgrounds of the 55 delegates
Intelligent, educated, wealthy, had a basic understanding of law, government officials, lawyers, military leaders, WHITE
(*blacks weren’t delegates bc they weren’t educated bc of the slave code)
Why didn’t Rhode Island attend the constitutional convention?
They were very small, they felt that they would be left out of the power and they opposed a strong central government
Who was the oldest delegate?
Ben Franklin, 81 yo
Which two delegates later became US Presidents?
George Washington and James Madison
Why didn’t Thomas Jefferson and John Adams attend?
They were in Europe bc they were ambassadors
Why didn’t American patriot Patrick Henry attend!
He was an Anti-Federalist, he was against a strong central government
(“Give me liberty or give me death”)
Who was unanimously chosen as leader of the convention?
George Washington
List the 3 rules of the convention
- Keep it a secret
- Each state got one vote when they voted on an issue
- All votes would be decided by majority rule
Who kept a notebook with details of the convention?
James Madison
Why did delegates decide to write a new constitution?
Because the articles were soooo weak
Why did states with larger populations support the virginia plan?
They could have more power
Why did smaller states support the New Jersey plan?
Because it would give them equal power with the larger states
Why was Roger Sherman’s (Connecticut) plan called the Great Compromise?
It combined the New Jersey plan and the Virginia plan
Why did the northern states oppose counting slaves as part of a states population?
- Because slaves were not citizens
2. They didn’t want the south to have that much power
Explains the 3/5 compromise:
Every five slaves would count as 3 people
