The Constitutional Convention

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Learning Objective:

CON-1.C: Explain the ongoing impact of political negotiation and compromise at the Constitutional Convention on the development of the constitutional system.

CON-1.C.1: Compromises deemed necessary for adoption and ratification of the Constitution are represented by the:

• Great (Connecticut) Compromise
• Electoral College
• Three-Fifths Compromise
• Compromise on the importation of slaves

CON-1.C.2: Debates about self-government during the drafting of the Constitution necessitated the drafting of an amendment process in Article V that entailed either a two-thirds vote in both houses or a proposal from two-thirds of the state legislatures, with final ratification determined by three-fourths of the states.

CON-1.C.3: The compromises necessary to secure ratification of the Constitution left some matters unresolved that continue to generate discussion and debate today.

The Constitutional Convention
The Articles of Confederation was clearly failing and Shays' Rebellion highlighted the problems the new government was having. As a result, Congress authorized states to send delegates in the summer of 1787 to Philadelphia to revise the Articles. This became known as the Constitutional Convention and led to the creation of the world's longest lasting written constitution. Central to the convention was the series of compromises made by the delegates to help achieve consensus.

Key Questions:
1. What were the key differences between the Virginia and New Jersey plans?
2. How did the Great Compromise solve the dilemma of representation?
3. How was the issue of slavery handled at the convention? How did that impact the future of our country?






For Review

Here's a Crash Course video on the compromises made at the Convention:





Another video focusing on the representation and slavery compromises:





Here's a Hip Hughes video on the Convention:





Here are a few more websites on the Constitutional Convention:

How did compromises help create a more unified nation at the Constitutional Convention?

Exploring Constitutional Conflicts: The Constitutional Convention

Regent's Prep: Constitutional Convention

Constitutional Rights Foundation: The Major Debates at the Constitutional Convention