Troubles with the existing Confederation of States finally convinced the Continental Congress, in February 1787, to call for a convention of delegates to meet in May in Philadelphia “
to devise such further provisions as shall appear to them necessary to render the constitution of the Federal Government adequate to the
…
Why did delegates gather in 1787 for the Constitutional Convention?
On May 14, 1787, delegates to the Constitutional Convention begin to assemble in Philadelphia to confront a daunting task:
the peaceful overthrow of the new American government
as defined by the Article of Confederation.
Why did the delegates originally come to the Constitutional Convention?
A convention of delegates from all the states except Rhode Island met in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in May of 1787. Known as the Constitutional Convention, at this meeting it was decided that
the best solution to the young country's problems was to set aside the Articles of Confederation and write a new constitution.
What was the main purpose of the convention when the delegates first arrived?
The Constitutional Convention took place from May 14 to September 17, 1787, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The point of the event was
decide how America was going to be governed
. Although the Convention had been officially called to revise the existing Articles of Confederation, many delegates had much bigger plans.
What did the delegates to the Constitutional Convention originally plan to do?
The Virginia delegates to the Constitutional Convention, led by James Madison (1741–1836) and George Washington (1732–1799), prepared a plan of government that
provided for proportional representation in a bicameral (two-house) legislature and a strong national government with veto power over state laws
.
What was one thing all the delegates had in common?
Despite their differences, the delegates did have one thing in common:
they were educated men
. They had studied history and great political philosophers such as Locke and Montesquieu.
What did the delegates at the Constitutional Convention consider a weakness?
With the passage of time, weaknesses in the Articles of Confederation became apparent;
Congress commanded little respect and no support from state governments anxious to maintain their power
. Congress could not raise funds, regulate trade, or conduct foreign policy without the voluntary agreement of the states.
On what issues did convention delegates agree?
The delegates generally agreed on
the need for a separate executive independent of the legislature
. (The executive would be called the “president.”) And they also agreed on giving the president the power to veto laws but only if his veto was subject to an override.
How many delegates came to the meeting?
In all,
55 delegates
attended the Constitutional Convention sessions, but only 39 actually signed the Constitution. The delegates ranged in age from Jonathan Dayton, aged 26, to Benjamin Franklin, aged 81, who was so infirm that he had to be carried to sessions in a sedan chair.
Which state did not send delegates to the convention?
Rhode Island
was the only state not to send delegates to the Constitutional Convention in 1787.
Why did the delegates have to meet in secret?
To
encourage delegates to make arguments without fear of recrimination and to discourage mob action in the city
, those in attendance kept their deliberations secret during their lifetimes and did not inform the public of the resulting document until September 17, after most of the delegates had signed on to it.
What was the purpose of the Convention of 1787?
The Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia met between May and September of 1787 to
address the problems of the weak central government that existed under the Articles of Confederation
.
What was the most serious task that the convention faced?
What was the most serious task that the convention faced? The most serious task that the convention faced was
how to achieve a balance between liberty and authority.
What were the 3 major issues at the Constitutional Convention?
The major debates were over
representation in Congress, the powers of the president, how to elect the president (Electoral College), slave trade, and a bill of rights
.
Who called the constitutional convention to be held?
During the Founding Era, convention calls were issued by
the Continental and Confederation Congresses
, by prior conventions and—most frequently—by individual states. In rare instances the call might be the product of negotiation among two or more states, reflected in letters or resolutions issued by those states.
Who were the delegates of the constitution?
The delegates included many of the leading figures of the period. Among them were George Washington, who was elected to preside,
James Madison, Benjamin Franklin, James Wilson, John Rutledge, Charles Pinckney, Oliver Ellsworth, and Gouverneur Morris
.
