what happened in the constitutional convention and the new us constitution
The Constitutional Convention was held in Philadelphia from May 25 to September 17, 1787, with the objective of revising the Articles of Confederation, which governed the United States at that time. However, the convention resulted in the creation of a new constitution instead.
During the convention, 55 delegates from 12 of the 13 states (Rhode Island did not attend) discussed and debated various issues to create a stronger and more effective central government. Notable founding fathers, such as George Washington, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and Benjamin Franklin, were among the delegates.
Key decisions and discussions included:
1. The Virginia Plan: Proposed by James Madison, it called for a bicameral legislature, with representation based on population, thereby favoring larger states.
2. The New Jersey Plan: Presented as an alternative to the Virginia Plan, it proposed a unicameral legislature with equal representation for each state, thus benefiting smaller states.
3. The Great Compromise: This compromise combined aspects of both the Virginia and New Jersey Plans. It established a bicameral legislature, with representation based on population in the House of Representatives and equal representation for each state in the Senate.
4. Three-Fifths Compromise: Regarding the issue of slavery, it was agreed that enslaved individuals would be counted as three-fifths of a person for the purpose of taxation and representation.
After intense debates and compromises, the delegates finalized the United States Constitution. It established a framework for the federal government, outlining its powers and limitations. The new constitution also included mechanisms for checks and balances between the three branches of government - the executive, legislative, and judicial branches.
The Constitution was subsequently ratified by state conventions, and it officially went into effect on March 4, 1789. It laid the foundation for the United States' democratic system, protecting individual rights, establishing the rule of law, and providing a blueprint for the nation's governance.