A central issue at the Convention was
whether the federal government or the states would have more power
. Many delegates believed that the federal government should be able to overrule state laws, but others feared that a strong federal government would oppress their citizens.
What plan were the delegates discussing?
James Madison's plan, known as
the Virginia Plan
, was the most important plan. The Virginia Plan was a proposal by Virginia delegates for a bicameral legislative branch.
What was the original purpose of the meeting of delegates?
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.
What did the delegates represent?
In the United States Congress delegates are elected to represent
the interests of a United States territory and its citizens or nationals
. In addition, certain US states are governed by a House of Delegates or another parliamentary assembly whose members are known as elected delegates.
What was discussed at the Constitutional Convention?
How the Articles of Confederation failed and delegates met to create a new constitution. 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.
What did the delegates primarily want?
Although the Convention had been officially called to revise the existing Articles of Confederation, many delegates had much bigger plans. Men like James Madison and Alexander Hamilton wanted
to create a new government
rather than fix the existing one.
How many delegates came to the meeting?
Those who did not attend included Richard Henry Lee, Patrick Henry, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Samuel Adams and, John Hancock. In all,
55 delegates
attended the Constitutional Convention sessions, but only 39 actually signed the Constitution.
What was the solution to the delegates hardest problem called?
“Great Compromise”
Saves the Convention
Finally, delegates made a “great compromise,” to create a bicameral (two-house) legislature with the states having equal representation in the upper house or senate and the people having proportional representation in the lower house, where all money bills were to originate.
Why were the delegates from the north and south arguing again in 1787?
Southern states
wanted to count their slave population toward representation
. Southern states would get more delegates in The House of Representatives & have more electoral votes for the presidency. Northern states did not want the slave population counted.
Why do you think it was important that most delegates had served in state legislatures?
Why do you think it was important that most delegates had served in state legislatures?
because they would be more educated in knowing how to improve it for the best
. … the agreement to create a two-house legislature.
Which two delegates later became presidents?
The delegates elected
George Washington of Virginia
, former commanding general of the Continental Army in the late American Revolutionary War (1775–1783) and proponent of a stronger national government, to become President of the convention.
Who are the 55 delegates?
There were 55 delegates who attended the convention. 1 The most well-known attendees for each state were:
Virginia – George Washington, James Madison, Edmund Randolph, George Mason
.
Pennsylvania – Benjamin Franklin, Gouverneur Morris, Robert Morris, James Wilson
.
What is 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 was the main issue for why possible delegates didn't go to the Constitutional Convention?
Increasing power of the national government
was the main issue for why possible delegates didn't go to the Constitutional Convention.
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.
What were the three major equality issues at the constitutional convention How were resolved?
The issue of representation was solved by the Connecticut compromise, the issue of counting slaves was solved by the 3/5 compromise
, and the issue of who can vote (political equality) was decided by giving the states the rights to decide who can vote.
