1787 Philadelphia Convention

Question 1

When is the convention and what is some general context for an intro ?

Answer 1

• May 1787 ‘an assembly of Demi gods’
• the delegates are known as the founding fathers who saved the revolution by maintaing the principles they set out to achieve
• relaunching the republic and laying the foundation of all that followed

Question 2

Where there any disagreements in terms of principles amongst the founding fathers ?

Answer 2

• No, virtually all greed that it was necessary for a strong govenrment
• many didn’t want the new centralized power to abolish state sovereignty
• General agreement for a balanced govenrment
• virtually all accepted that the people must have a voice in govenrment

Question 3

Was there unanimity in the details ?
If so what’s details attracted particular contention

Answer 3

• Whilst many agreed to an extension of the federal governments pier few agreed on to what extent this should increase to

Issues
- disagreed over one house or two in the legislature
- representation: all states equal irrespective of size like under the articles or should it be attributed to population

Question 4

Who were the key men of the convention ?

Answer 4

• James Madison: spoke 161 times
• Pennsylvanians James Wilson spoke 168 times
• George Washington and Benjamin Franklin but there presence was crucial as it gave the conceit on prestige

Question 5

What were the economic motivations according to Beard ?

Answer 5

• Charles Beard depicts the founding fathers as reactionaries to take down public rule and stood to gain economically if a strong central government was established
• He goes into say the debate centred between holders of
  Personal property (money, trade and shipping) against real property (land)

Question 6

How is Beards view flawed ?

Answer 6

• Founding fathers capital was largely invested into land and many were some of the largest land holders
• they were certainly rich but economic interest didn’t undermine the framing of the constitution
• they believed liberty was at stake and convinced excessive democracy was a danger much like a tyrannical monarchy

Question 7

What was the Virginia plan ?

Answer 7

Largely the work of James Madison
- national legislature for the two houses where each would have representation proportional to population
- it set the agenda as it was the first plan proposed

Question 8

What was the New Jersey plan ?

Answer 8

• The Virginia plan was seen to oppose smaller states as larger ones could easily out vote them
• William Patterson presented his scheme the New Jersey plan providing a single legislative chamber where each state would have one vote
• congress could tax but state sovereignty was largely preserved

Question 9

What is the Great Compromise ?
When was it accepted ?

Answer 9

The Grand Committees report is known as the Great compromise
- all states would have equal representation in the upper house (The senate)
- in the lower house (house of representatives) it would be based on proportional representation of population
- Direct tax and representation based on regular server
- Accepted on 16 July

Question 10

How were the North and South divided ?

Answer 10

Slavery !
- Southern states wants slaves to be included in the total population when allocating Congressional seats but left out in determining taxation
- North wanted them to be excluded from representation but taxed as they were a form of property

Question 11

What was the solution for the issue of slavery ?

Answer 11

3/5s rule where by one slave was either 3/5s when counted in the population