Unit 2 Lesson 6: Consitiional convention and the consituion Flashcards
The Philadelphia Convention was not the first effort to fix the problems with the Articles of Confederation. What was the first meeeting that took place to solve the problems of the Articles of Condfederstion, and why did nothing come out of the confedtion?
In early 1786, James Madison of Virginia asked for a meeting of states to address the widespread economic problems that plagued the new nation. The legislature in Virginia invited all 13 states to meet in Annapolis, Maryland, to work on solutions for commerce between the states. But the 1786 Annapolis Convention failed to provide any solutions because only five states sent delegates.
What did the Constitutional Convention happenm?
In February 1787, the Confederation Congress authorized the Philadelphia Convention to convene in May.
What was the orginal purpose of the Constitutional Convention?
The original purpose of the convention was to amend the Articles of Confederation.
What the “new” purpose of the Constitutional Convention?
But some delegates moved quickly to create a new framework for a more powerful national government. That framework became the United States Constitution, and the Philadelphia Convention became known as the Constitutional Convention of 1787.
The 55 men who attended the convention disagreed over the issue of centralized government and questions of how Americans would be represented in the federal government. What did those who opposed a stronger government agure?
Those who opposed the proposal for a stronger federal government argued that such a plan limited the voice of the American people. The delegates knew that what they were doing would be controversial; some delegates did not believe they had the authority to create a strong national government.
Which plan did more populous states favor? Why?
States with larger populations supported the Virginia Plan because the number of representatives was based on population, and larger states would have more representatives.
How did the Great Compromise satisfy both large and small states?
Large states get more representation in the House of Representatives where delegates are chosen by population. Small states get equal representation in the Senate.
How did the Three-Fifths Compromise impact representation?
The Three-Fifths Compromise gave more power to southern states because enslaved people were counted for the purposes of representation.
What was the key issue of the convention in Philadelphia?
The key issue of the convention in Philadelphia was representation in the new national government.
What was the Virgina plan?
James Madison’s Virginia Plan called for a strong national government that could overturn state laws.
What does the Virgina plan have to do with a bicameral?
The plan featured a bicameral, or two-house legislature, with an upper and a lower house.
How who the Virgina Plan repersent that states?
The people of the states would elect the members of the lower house. Representation would be proportional, meaning that the population of the state determines the number of representatives from each state. State legislatures would send delegates to the upper house. The number of representatives in the upper chamber would also be based on the state’s population.
The Virgina plan gave which states more power?
This proportional representation gave the more populous states, such as Virginia, more political power. Under this plan, Virginia, the most populous state, would dominate national political power and ensure its interests, including slavery, would be safe.
What was in the Virgina Plan that was absent in the Articles of Confederation?
The Virginia Plan also called for an executive branch and a judicial branch, both of which were absent under the Articles of Confederation.
Under theVirgina Plan who would appoint member to the exucetive nad judical branches?
The lower and upper house together were to appoint members to the executive and judicial branches.
What was the New Jeresey plan?
William Paterson introduced a New Jersey Plan to counter Madison’s plan. Paterson proposed that all states have equal votes in a unicameral national legislature. He also addressed the economic problems of the day.
Under the New Jeresy plan, what power did Congress have?
He suggested that Congress have the power to regulate commerce, to raise revenue through taxes on imports and through postage, and to enforce Congressional requests for money from the states.
How would the nation be affected if all representation were proportional?
Large cities and populous states would dominate national politics. The concerns of people in these areas, often on the East and West Coasts, would overshadow the problems of people in less populated areas. People in less populated areas would not have a strong voice in national politics, but would still be subject to decisions that are made.
How would the nation be affected if all representation were equal?
Individuals in states with small populations would have more of a voice with their congressional representative. The interests of small states would be on the same scale as those states where populations are as much as 50 times greater.
Why was the Great Compromise/Connecticut Compromise made?
Roger Sherman from Connecticut offered a compromise to break the deadlock over the question of representation.
What did the Connecticut Compromise state?
His Connecticut Compromise, also known as the Great Compromise, outlined a different bicameral legislature. The Senate would have equal representation for all states. Each state would be represented by two senators chosen by the state legislatures. Only the House of Representatives would have proportional representation.
Why did the delegates write safeguards against direct democracy?
Many delegates had reservations about democracy. Giving people too much direct power, they feared, promoted anarchy. So, they wrote safeguards against direct democracy into the Constitution.
