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
Who did what at the Constitutional Convention?
Men like James Madison and Alexander Hamilton wanted to create a new government rather than fix the existing one. The delegates
elected George Washington
to preside over the Convention. 70 Delegates had been appointed by the original states to attend the Constitutional Convention, but only 55 were able to be there.
Who was at the Constitutional Convention and who wasn t?
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 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
.
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 2 founding fathers never signed the Constitution?
Three Founders—
Elbridge Gerry, George Mason, and Edmund Randolph
—refused to sign the Constitution, unhappy with the final document for various reasons including a lack of a Bill of Rights.
Who really wrote the Constitution?
The easiest answer to the question of who wrote the Constitution is
James Madison
, who drafted the document after the Constitutional Convention of 1787.
Who was excluded from the Constitution?
Women were second-class citizens, essentially the property of their husbands, unable even to vote until 1920, when the 19th Amendment was passed and ratified.
Native Americans
were entirely outside the constitutional system, defined as an alien people in their own land.
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.
What was the main source of conflict at the Constitutional Convention?
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 three issues did the compromises at the Constitutional Convention?
The three major compromises were
the Great Compromise, the Three-Fifths Compromise, and the Electoral College
. The Great Compromise settled matters of representation in the federal government.
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.
How was the issue of slavery addressed at the Constitutional Convention?
Three-fifths compromise, compromise agreement between delegates from the Northern and the Southern states at the United States Constitutional Convention (1787) that
three-fifths of the slave population would be counted for determining direct taxation and representation in the House of Representatives
.
How many states have called for a Constitutional Convention?
None have moved past the House yet. It would take two-thirds of all states in the country to call a convention, and three-quarters to ratify any proposed amendments. As of now,
15 states
have passed a Convention of States resolution — less than half of the necessary number to call it to order.
How many founding fathers had slaves?
Of the first 12 U.S. presidents,
eight were slave owners
. These men have traditionally been considered national heroes. Buildings, streets, cities, schools, and monuments are named in their honor.
Which Founding Fathers didnt own slaves?
According to Britannica, most of the “Founding Fathers” owned slaves (see chart below). A handful didn't, including
John Adams and Thomas Paine
, and slaveowner Thomas Jefferson actually wrote a draft section of the Constitution absolving Americans of responsibility for slavery by blaming the British.
