The Constitutional Convention Flashcards
Why was the Constitutional Convention called?
To fix the Articles of Confederation
When and where did the convention take place?
Independence Hall in Philadelphia. May 14, 1787. Met in secret
How many delegates where there?
54 delegates from 12 states
Who was missing from the convention?
Thomas Jefferson and John Adams. Rhode Island also didn’t send delegates
Who was unanimously elected chair?
George Washington
Who was Alexander Hamilton?
He was the money man from New York.
Helped write the Federalist papers with John Jay and James Madison.
Was the first Secretary of Treasury.
What was George Washington’s role as president of the convention?
To keep order
Who was James Madison?
Representative of Virginia.
Urged Washington to be a part of the meeting.
“The Father of the Constitution”
Was the recorder/note taker
Who was Edmund Randolph?
Introduced the Virginia Plan (became House of Representatives)
Didn’t sign the constitution because it “had too many defects”
Who was George Mason?
Wanted to give EVERYONE the right to vote.
Opposed slavery and no checks to the President’s veto power.
Didn’t sign the constitution because there was no bill of rights.
What were Charles Pickney’s suggestions for the constitution?
Suggested freedom of the press and patent laws.
Suggested no religious test for office.
How did William Johnson describe the delegates at the meeting?
“some of the most able men in America”
Who was William Livingston?
Representative of New Jersey.
Suggested we end slavery gradually by limiting the number of imports.
Who was James Wilson?
Representative of New York
Came up with the electrical college
What did Ben Franklin say about the Constitution?
“Although imperfect, it is as close to perfect as humanly possible.”
What is Federalism?
Shared powers between federal and state government.
What is the Virginia Plan?
Proposed by Edmund Randolph.
Said legislative branch of representation should be based off population.
What was the New Jersey Plan?
Proposed by William Paterson. Became the senate.
Said that the legislation branch should be based off equality.
What was the Connecticut plan?
The great compromise.
Said congress should be Bicameral. The house+senate=congress
What was the 3/5 compromise?
Slaves count for 3/5 for taxes and population.
Kept slavery legal
Why were the Articles of Confederation so weak?
Congress couldn’t collect tax, regulate trade, settle disputes among states, or enforce its powers.
Weak federal government. No chief executive power/leader. No agreement among states to make laws
