who was involved in The Constitutional Convention and the new US Constitution
The Constitutional Convention was attended by 55 delegates from 12 of the 13 American states at that time. Some important figures involved in the convention and the creation of the new US Constitution include:
1. George Washington: The President of the Convention, who presided over the proceedings.
2. James Madison: Often called the "Father of the Constitution," Madison played a significant role in drafting the Constitution and was a key advocate for its ratification.
3. Alexander Hamilton: A strong supporter of a strong centralized government, Hamilton played a vital role in shaping the Constitution and promoting its ratification through his contributions to the Federalist Papers.
4. Benjamin Franklin: One of the nation's founding fathers, Franklin provided his wisdom and experience to the convention and was highly respected by his fellow delegates.
5. Roger Sherman: An influential delegate from Connecticut, Sherman played a significant role in developing the Great Compromise, which settled the dispute over representation in Congress.
6. Gouverneur Morris: Known as the "Penman of the Constitution," Morris is credited with writing the final draft of the Constitution and was instrumental in shaping its language and structure.
7. Thomas Jefferson: Although not present at the Constitutional Convention, Jefferson's ideas and philosophies greatly influenced the creation of the Constitution. He was serving as the American Minister to France at the time.
8. John Adams: Similar to Jefferson, Adams was not present at the convention but played a significant role in the formation of the new Constitution. He was serving as the American Minister to Great Britain at the time.
9. John Jay: Another influential Founding Father, Jay didn't attend the Constitutional Convention, but he contributed to the Constitution's creation through his involvement in the Federalist Papers.
10. Edmund Randolph: The Governor of Virginia at the time, Randolph presented the Virginia Plan, which served as the basis for much of the Constitution.
These are just a few of the important individuals involved in the Constitutional Convention and the creation of the new US Constitution.
give a short list of the most important people
Here is a shortlist of some of the most important individuals involved in the Constitutional Convention and the creation of the new US Constitution:
1. George Washington
2. James Madison
3. Alexander Hamilton
4. Benjamin Franklin
5. Roger Sherman
6. Gouverneur Morris
These individuals played vital roles in shaping and advocating for the Constitution, and their contributions were instrumental in the formation of the United States' government structure.
What happened? Summarize the event!
The Constitutional Convention was held between May 25 and September 17, 1787, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The purpose of the convention was to revise the existing Articles of Confederation, which governed the newly formed United States but had proved to be inefficient.
During the convention, the delegates debated and deliberated, ultimately deciding to scrap the Articles of Confederation entirely and develop a new framework for government. They set out to create a strong federal government that would strike a balance between state and national powers and address the weaknesses of the previous system.
Important compromises were reached during the convention, such as the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan. The Great Compromise, proposed by Roger Sherman, settled the disagreement over representation in Congress by creating a bicameral legislature—a House of Representatives based on population and a Senate with equal representation for each state.
Key figures like George Washington, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and Benjamin Franklin were influential in shaping the Constitution. James Madison is often referred to as the "Father of the Constitution" due to his significant contributions and his efforts to record the convention's proceedings.
The resulting document, the United States Constitution, established a federal system of government with a separation of powers among the three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial. It outlined the rights and freedoms of the people, including the Bill of Rights, which later became the first ten amendments.
Following the convention, the Constitution had to be ratified by the states. On June 21, 1788, New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify, reaching the required threshold for the Constitution to go into effect. The United States of America was now governed by this new Constitution, providing a strong and lasting foundation for the nation's government.