Constitutional Convention

Examples of Constitutional Convention in the following topics:

• The Final Document

  • Despite quarreling between Federalists and Anti-Federalists, the Constitutional Convention ratified the Constitution in September 1788.
  • On September 28, 1787, the Articles Congress resolved "unanimously" to transmit the Constitution to state legislatures for submitting to a ratification convention according to the Constitutional procedure.
  • In New York, fully two thirds of the convention delegates were at first opposed to the Constitution.
  • Maryland's Luther Martin argued that the federal convention had exceeded its authority; he still called for amending the Articles.
  • New York Anti's "circular letter" was sent to each state legislature proposing a second constitutional convention for "amendments before".

• From Annapolis to Philadelphia

  • Prior to the Annapolis Convention and the 1787 Philadelphia convention that saw the drafting of the United States Constitution, delegates from Virginia and Maryland met at George Washington's home at Mount Vernon, Virginia in March 1785.
  • In January 1786, Virginia invited all the states to attend a meeting on commercial issues that would be the ground-breaking Annapolis Convention, where twelve delegates from five states unanimously called for a constitutional convention.
  • He drafted its resolution for a constitutional convention, and in doing so brought his longtime desire to have a more powerful, more financially independent federal government one step closer to reality.
  • The convention met in September 1786.
  • The direct result of the report was the Philadelphia Convention of 1787, which produced the United States Constitution.

• The Structure of the Government

  • The Constitutional Convention was convened in Philadelphia in 1787 to address the problems in the Articles of Confederation.
  • The Constitutional Convention, which took place in Philadelphia in 1787, was convened to address the problems in the Articles of Confederation.
  • At the end of the Convention, most delegates were in favor of sending the final draft of the Constitution to the state legislatures for ratification.
  • Ultimately, the Bill of Rights was not included in the Constitution submitted for ratification, but many state conventions ratified the Constitution with the understanding that a bill of rights would soon follow.
  • Describe the work done by the delegates to the Constitutional Convention

• The U.S. Constitution

  • The 1787 Constitutional Convention was convened in Philadelphia to address severe problems and weaknesses in the Articles of Confederation.
  • Several proposals were presented by delegates to the Convention, outlining various political structures.
  • New Jersey Plans was contentious and almost threatened to shut the Convention down.
  • Another issue that faced the Convention was creating a balance between state and federal veto power.
  • Indeed, many state conventions ratified the Constitution with the understanding that a bill of rights would soon follow.

• The Holdouts: Virginia and New York

  • What followed was an arduous process of ratification by specially constituted conventions.
  • As for Virginia, which only ratified the Constitution at its convention on June 25, Hamilton writes in a letter to Madison that the collected edition of "The Federalist" had been sent to Virginia for the purpose of advocating in favor of the Constitution.
  • Probably of greater importance to the Virginia debate, in any case, was George Washington's support of the proposed Constitution and the presence of Madison and Edmund Randolph, the governor, at the convention, all arguing in favor of ratification.
  • A major issue during the Virginia Ratification Convention was the question of individual rights.
  • Many of the ideas presented during this convention were later incorporated into the United States Bill of Rights.

• Conclusion: The Development of the Constitution

  • One issue the Constitutional Convention delegates addressed was the way representatives in the new national government would be chosen.
  • Slavery was among the most controversial issues confronting the delegates at the Constitutional Convention.
  • Because of the contentious nature, and because delegates did not want the Constitution's ratification to fail because of the conflict over slavery, the Convention postponed its decision on the slave trade.
  • Many of the Constitutional Convention delegates had serious reservations about democracy, which they believed promoted anarchy.
  • The delegates decided that for the new national government to be implemented, each state must first hold a special ratifying convention.

• Nationalists of the 1780s

  • Rhode Island, fearing that the Convention would work to its disadvantage, boycotted the Convention and in 1788 refused ratification on the first try.
  • He drafted its resolution for a constitutional convention, and in doing so brought his longtime desire to have a more powerful, more financially independent federal government one step closer to reality.
  • The direct result of the report was the Philadelphia Convention of 1787, which produced the United States Constitution.
  • The Articles of Confederation were ratified in 1781; the Articles were the governing document of the United States until the Constitution.
  • Explain why states were motivated to come together at the Annapolis Convention

• State Constitutions

  • They had also elected conventions and "legislatures" that existed outside of any currently established legal framework.
  • Virginia, South Carolina, and New Jersey created their constitutions before July 4.
  • For example, the radical provisions of Pennsylvania's constitution lasted only 14 years.
  • In 1790, conservatives gained power in the state legislature, called for a new constitutional convention, and rewrote the constitution.
  • Compare and contrast the state constitutions respectively created by affluent and less-affluent states

• The Ratification of the Constitution

  • On September 17, 1787, the Constitution was completed by the Convention in Philadelphia.
  • Benjamin Franklin gave a speech shortly after the Constitution had been completed, urging unanimity among all the states, although the Convention had decided only nine state ratification conventions were needed to inaugurate the new government.
  • The fight for ratification was long and difficult, largely because special conventions were required in lieu of hearings within the state legislatures for ratification of the Constitution.
  • Each state was to hold a convention to debate the Constitution and ratify or reject it.
  • In New York, fully two-thirds of the convention delegates were at first opposed to the Constitution.

• The Ratification Debate

  • On September 17, 1787, the the delegates at the Philadelphia Convention finalized the new United States Constitution.
  • However, the Convention had decided that only nine states—two-thirds of the total number of states—would need to ratify the Constitution in order to inaugurate the new government.
  • The fight for ratification was arduous, largely because special conventions were required in lieu of hearings within the state legislatures for ratification.
  • Each state was to hold a convention to debate, and ratify or reject, the Constitution.
  • In New York, fully two-thirds of the convention delegates were initially opposed to the Constitution.