Constitutional Convention
Chrissy Foster
The Convention
The constitution convention too place between May to September in Philadelphia in 1787. They met to discuss the problems the government had under the Articles of Confederation. The constitution that emerged established a federal government with more specific powers.
Virginia Plan
This plan called for a central government divided into three branches: legislative, judiciary, and executive. Called for a strong national government with the power to make laws, levy taxes, and override state laws. Called for a bicameral legislature with membership based off a state's population. The upper house would be selected by the state's legislature and the lower house representatives would be decided on by the people.
Edmund Randolph
Went to the convention that established Virginia's first constitution. Became mayor of Willamsburg and Attorney General for Virginia. And was a delegate to the Annapolis convention. In 1787 he proposed the Virginia Plan to the Constutional Convention.
James Madison
He was at the Virginia convention, House of Delegates, and the Council of states. In 1780 he was chosen to represent Virginia in the Constitutional Convention; he was a support of the Virginia Plan.
William Paterson
In 1755 he served in the Provincial Congress, Constitutional Convention, 1776 in the Legislative council as well as the council of safety. From 1776 to 1783 he was attorney general of New Jersey. In 1787 he was chosen to represent New Jersey at the Constitutional Convention.
New Jersey Plan
This plan called for a strong central government made of three branches; but it was designed to to stick closer to the Articles of Confederation. It would be a unicameral legislature where each state would have one vote and equal representation regardless of that state's population.
Roger Sherman
The first time he was an official for was in 1743 where he became a survey for New Haven County. In 1754 he was accepted into the bar for Lichfield and represented New Milford a year later. He was appointed Commissioner for the Connecticut Troops at the start of the Revolutionary War.
Problems at the Convention
- Representation in Congress
- Giving power to the President
- Stopping the slave trade
- If they needed a Bill of Rights