In 1786, leaders in Virginia passed a resolution calling for delegates (representatives) from the 13 states to meet in Annapolis, Maryland, to discuss the nation's problems. Their goal was to amend (change) the Articles of Confederation to make the national government stronger and more effective. But, only twelve representatives from five states attended the Annapolis Convention, so they resolved to call another meeting the following year. The Constitutional Convention On May 25, 1787, delegates from twelve of the thirteen states gathered in Independence Hall in Philadelphia to open the Constitutional Convention. Rhode Island was the only state not represented. In attendance were 55 men, including many talented scholars, philosophers, war leaders, and politicians. These men are now referred to as the Founding Fathers or Framers. Alexander Hamilton, representing New York, was largely responsible for arranging the Constitutional Convention. George Washington, from Virginia, was president of the convention. Benjamin Franklin, representing Pennsylvania, offered the incomparable wisdom of his 81 years. Gouverneur Morris, also from Pennsylvania, headed up the committee that actually wrote the U.S. Constitution. James Madison, also from Virginia, earned the nickname "Father of the Constitution" because his brilliant ideas kept the convention moving forward when problems developed. Almost immediately after the convention opened, a major disagreement developed between the delegates of the large and small states as to what form the new government should take. The larger, more populous states supported the Virginia Plan, which proposed that representation within the government should be based on the size of a state's population. The plan was designed to give states with large populations a proportionately large share of decision-making power. Smaller, less populous states, opposed the Virginia Plan. They supported the New Jersey Plan, which proposed that every state, regardless of size, would have the same representation within the government. The Virginia and New Jersey plans are compared below: Virginia Plan New Jersey Plan Legislative branch has two chambers Legislative branch has one chamber
In 1786, leaders in Virginia passed a resolution calling for delegates (representatives) from the 13 states to meet in Annapolis, Maryland, to discuss the nation's problems. Their goal was to amend (change) the Articles of Confederation to make the national government stronger and more effective. But, only twelve representatives from five states attended the Annapolis Convention, so they resolved to call another meeting the following year. The Constitutional Convention On May 25, 1787, delegates from twelve of the thirteen states gathered in Independence Hall in Philadelphia to open the Constitutional Convention. Rhode Island was the only state not represented. In attendance were 55 men, including many talented scholars, philosophers, war leaders, and politicians. These men are now referred to as the Founding Fathers or Framers. Alexander Hamilton, representing New York, was largely responsible for arranging the Constitutional Convention. George Washington, from Virginia, was president of the convention. Benjamin Franklin, representing Pennsylvania, offered the incomparable wisdom of his 81 years. Gouverneur Morris, also from Pennsylvania, headed up the committee that actually wrote the U.S. Constitution. James Madison, also from Virginia, earned the nickname "Father of the Constitution" because his brilliant ideas kept the convention moving forward when problems developed. Almost immediately after the convention opened, a major disagreement developed between the delegates of the large and small states as to what form the new government should take. The larger, more populous states supported the Virginia Plan, which proposed that representation within the government should be based on the size of a state's population. The plan was designed to give states with large populations a proportionately large share of decision-making power. Smaller, less populous states, opposed the Virginia Plan. They supported the New Jersey Plan, which proposed that every state, regardless of size, would have the same representation within the government. The Virginia and New Jersey plans are compared below: Virginia Plan New Jersey Plan Legislative branch has two chambers Legislative branch has one chamber
Senior%20High%20Constitution%20Day%20Resource%20Guide%202014.docx