Constitutional Convention Flashcards
When and where did the Constitutional Convention start?
May 25, 1781 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at the state house (Independence Hall)
Who created the Virginia Plan?
James Madison
What states does the Virginia Plan support?
Larger states
What are the three characteristics of the legislative branch in the Virginia Plan?
Make laws
Bicameral (2 house) congress
Size of both houses based on population
What are the three characteristics of the executive branch in the Virginia Plan?
Enforce laws
One executive (President)
Executive chosen by Congress
What are the three characteristics of the judicial branch in the Virginia Plan?
Interpret laws
More than one court
Justices appointed by President
Who created the New Jersey Plan?
William Paterson
What states does the New Jersey Plan support?
Smaller states
What are the three characteristics of the legislative branch in the New Jersey Plan?
Make laws
Unicameral (1 house) Congress
Size of house equal among states (1 Senator each)
What are the three characteristics of the executive branch in the New Jersey Plan?
Enforce laws
Several executive
Executives appointed by Congress
What are the three characteristics of the judicial branch in the New Jersey Plan?
Interpret laws
One court
Justices appointed by executives
What is the Connecticut Plan also called?
The Great Compromise
Who created the Great Compromise?
Roger Sherman
What states does the Connecticut Plan support?
Big states and smaller states
What are the three characteristics of the legislative branch in the Connecticut Plan?
Make laws
Bicameral (2 house) Congress
House of Rep. based on population, Senate equal
What are the three characteristics of the executive branch in the Connecticut Plan?
Enforce laws One executive (President) Appointed through electoral college
What are the three characteristics of the judicial branch in the Connecticut Plan?
Interpret laws
One Supreme Court
Justices appointed by executive
What was the last major issue?
Whether slaves should be counted as population or not
With the last major issue, what did southern states want?
Southern states wanted slaves to be counted as population and wanted to keep slavery
With the last major issue, what did northern states want?
Northern states did not want slaves to be counted as population, if slaves were counted as population they said their cattle and livestock would be counted as population. Northern states wanted to abolish slavery
What was the compromise for the last major issue?
Slaves would count as 3/5 of the population
In the end what was the Constitution?
It was a balancing act of many philosophies that enabled the Constitution to be ratifies
When was the Constitution ratified?
September 17, 1787
How many states were needed to have the Constitution be ratified?
2/3 (9 out of 13)
Did all states eventually sign the Constitution? If so when?
All states eventually signed the Constitution in 1790
What were the men who helped create the Constitution called?
Framers
What was the order of states ratifying the Constitution?
- Delaware
- Pennsylvania
- New Jersey
- Georgia
- Connecticut
- Massachusetts
- Maryland
- South Carolina
- ***New Hampshire
- Virginia
- New York
- North Carolina
- Rhode Island
