The Potomac Conference was held at the Mount Vernon estate of George Washington. Washington was a respected general who led the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War. Delegates from Virginia and Maryland met to work out agreements for trade on the Potomac River. This led to a general conference on trade, held at Annapolis in 1786. These delegates, from five states, adopted a resolution asking Congress to call a general convention of all states to revise the Articles of Confederation.
Congress issued a call for all states to send delegates to a general convention to be held in Philadelphia beginning in May 1787. This meeting became the Constitutional Convention.
Twelve states sent 55 delegates, but Rhode Island refused to send anyone. Some of the leading citizens in the nation attended, including George Washington, James Madison, Benjamin Franklin, John Dickinson, and Alexander Hamilton. Thomas Jefferson and John Adams were in Europe, representing the nation as ambassadors. Other leading figures like Thomas Paine and Samuel Adams were not elected. Patrick Henry refused to serve. He said that he "smelled a rat," because he feared the states were going to lose a great amount of their power to the national government.
George Washington was elected to preside over the convention. Behind him as he presided over the meetings was a painting of a sun, low on the horizon. Franklin wondered if it was a rising sun or a setting sun for the United States. James Madison is often called the Father of the Constitution, because of his enormous contributions at the convention, and for the notes that he took. These notes and all other notes were kept secret for several years, because the delegates wanted to speak freely, without fear of reprisal.
The delegates at the Constitutional Convention spent the summer of 1787 in intense debate and negotiation. They worked to create a new framework for the government of the United States that would balance power between the national government and the states. The Virginia Plan, proposed by Madison, called for a strong central government with three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial. The New Jersey Plan, put forth by William Paterson, sought to maintain the structure of the Articles of Confederation with a few modifications.
Ultimately, a compromise known as the Connecticut Compromise, or the Great Compromise, was reached. This compromise created a bicameral legislature with representation based on both population (in the House of Representatives) and equal representation for each state (in the Senate). The convention also tackled other contentious issues, such as slavery and the counting of enslaved individuals in determining population for representation and taxation purposes. A compromise known as the Three-Fifths Compromise was reached, which counted enslaved individuals as three-fifths of a person for these purposes.
After several months of deliberation, the Constitution was drafted and signed on September 17, 1787. It was then sent to the states for ratification. The Constitution established a stronger central government and provided for a separation of powers, checks and balances, and individual rights. It was eventually ratified by all 13 states and went into effect in 1789.
The Constitutional Convention was a seminal moment in American history, as it laid the foundation for the system of government that still exists today. The delegates' efforts to balance governmental power and protect individual rights continue to shape the United States.
During the Constitutional Convention, the delegates engaged in intensive and often heated debates to create a new constitution for the United States. The primary goal was to establish a stronger central government while striking a balance between state and federal powers. Here is a step-by-step breakdown of the key events and decisions made during the convention:
1. Virginia Plan: Delegates initially presented the Virginia Plan, proposed by James Madison, which called for a bicameral legislature with representation based on population. This plan favored larger states and sparked a debate between small and large states.
2. New Jersey Plan: In response to the Virginia Plan, William Paterson presented the New Jersey Plan, which advocated for a unicameral legislature with equal representation for each state. This plan aimed to protect the interests of smaller states.
3. The Great Compromise: After intense negotiation, the delegates reached a compromise known as the Connecticut Compromise or the Great Compromise. It established a bicameral legislature with the lower house, the House of Representatives, having representation based on population, and the upper house, the Senate, granting equal representation to each state.
4. Three-Fifths Compromise: To address the issue of slavery, the delegates agreed on the Three-Fifths Compromise. It counted each enslaved person as three-fifths of a person for both taxation and representation purposes.
5. Separation of Powers: The delegates discussed and agreed upon the separation of powers among the three branches of government: the legislative branch, responsible for making laws; the executive branch, responsible for implementing and enforcing laws; and the judicial branch, responsible for interpreting laws.
6. Checks and Balances: The concept of checks and balances was established to prevent any one branch from gaining too much power. This system allows each branch to constrain the actions of the others, ensuring a system of accountability.
7. Ratification Process: After several months of deliberations, the delegates finalized the Constitution and sent it to the states for ratification. The Constitution required approval from nine out of thirteen states to go into effect.
8. Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists: The ratification process led to a debate between the Federalists, who supported the Constitution, and the Anti-Federalists, who opposed it. The Federalist Papers, a series of essays written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay, were published to promote the adoption of the Constitution.
9. Bill of Rights: To address concerns raised by Anti-Federalists, the promise of a Bill of Rights was made. These amendments, focused on protecting individual rights and limiting the power of the federal government, were added to the Constitution shortly after its ratification.
10. Ratification: The Constitution was ratified by the necessary number of states and went into effect on March 4, 1789. The newly formed United States began operating under its new framework of government.
The Constitutional Convention laid the foundation for the United States' political system, establishing the framework for the federal government's structure and defining the relationship between the states and the national government.
During the time of the Potomac Conference and the Constitutional Convention, there were various discussions and debates among the delegates to address the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation which governed the United States at that time. The purpose was to revise or create a new framework for the government that would address the challenges faced by the young nation.
The Potomac Conference, held at George Washington's Mount Vernon estate, brought delegates from Virginia and Maryland together to address trade issues on the Potomac River. This initial gathering eventually led to the idea of a more comprehensive convention where representatives from all states would meet to revise the Articles of Confederation.
Following the Potomac Conference, a general convention was called for in Philadelphia in May 1787. It came to be known as the Constitutional Convention. All states except Rhode Island sent delegates to this convention. The attendees included notable figures like George Washington, James Madison, Benjamin Franklin, John Dickinson, and Alexander Hamilton.
George Washington was chosen to preside over the convention, with James Madison playing a significant role in shaping the discussions and outcomes. Madison's detailed notes on the proceedings became a valuable historical record and earned him the title "Father of the Constitution."
During the convention, the delegates worked on drafting a new constitution, which eventually became the United States Constitution. The delegates kept their discussions and proceedings secret for several years as they wanted to have the freedom to express their opinions without fear of backlash.
The debates and compromises during the Constitutional Convention resulted in the creation of a stronger federal government with a system of checks and balances, which addressed many of the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation. The newly drafted Constitution was later ratified and became the supreme law of the land.
Overall, the Potomac Conference and the Constitutional Convention were pivotal moments in American history, as they laid the foundation for the constitutional framework that still governs the United States today.