The Constitutional Convention Flashcards
The delegates had many common attributes, what were they? How might that have influenced their decision-making?
All of the delegates were well educated and had political experience. Their combined knowledge and experience would help them agree more due to their understanding of certain topics. They would also make better decisions that would be more effective and accurate.
What was the Virginia Plan and what did it propose? Who would support that plan?
The Virginia Plan was proposed by James Madison. It contained a president, courts, and a Congress with two houses. The representation in Congress would be based off of population, which was most beneficial for the larger states. The larger states agreed with this plan.
What was the New Jersey Plan and what did it propose? Who would support that plan?
The New Jersey Plan was proposed by William Patterson. It was based off of the Articles- one legislature, one vote per state, with the exception being that Congress could tax and regulate trade. This plan proposed that there would be no president, but instead a strong committee for making and passing laws. The smaller states liked this plan because each state would be represented, rather than having the population be the form of representation. (The smaller states did not want their voices to be stamped on by the larger states population over their own)
What was the Great Compromise?
The Great Compromise settled the dispute between the larger and smaller states. It was proposed by Roger Sherman and it stated that Congress would have two houses- The House of Representatives, which was based off of population, and the Senate, which stated that each state would get two representatives.
What was the 3/5th Compromise?
The Three-Fifths Compromise proposed that every 5 enslaved persons equaled 3 free persons for purposes of representation in Congress. The Northern and Southern states compromised and allowed the government to regulate trade between states as well as other countries.
How many states had to agree to ratify the Constitution for it to become the official government of our country?
Nine states had to ratify the Constitution for it to go into effect as the new official government of our country
Who were the Federalists and what did they believe?
*The Federalists were Americans who supported the new proposed Constitution.
*They believed in Federalism- a form of government in which power is divided between the national government and the states.
*They believed federal law should be supreme law over the states
*They wrote the Federalist Papers- essays written in support of the Constitution
Examples: Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay
Who were Anti-Federalists and what did they believe?
*The Anti-Federalists were Americans who opposed the new proposed Constitution
*They believed the new Constitution destroyed the rights won during the American Revolution
*They believed the Constitution favored the wealthy over the common people
*They wanted a Bill of Rights in the new Constitution in order to protect the individual freedoms of the people
Examples: Patrick Henry, Samuel Adams, and James Monroe
What were The Federalist Papers? What key ideas about the Constitution did The Federalist Papers highlight?
The Federalist Papers were 85 essays written by the Federalists showing their support of the Constitution. The Federalists promoted the ratification of the Constitution and wrote in their essays about the strong central government that would be created if the Constitution was ratified
