THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION

Meet me in Philly After a failed Annapolis Convention,

decided to meet in Philadelphia Hoped to revise the Articles of

Confederation Discussions of the Convention were to be

kept secret 55 delegates from 12 states attended

(Rhode Island never showed)

Major Arguments How should states be

represented in the legislature? Should everyone be allowed to

vote or just a select group? Should slaves be counted

towards representation in Congress?

How should states be represented in the legislature?

Small States New Jersey Plan-William Patterson

Congress would have one houseCongress could regulate trade and collect taxes

Equal representation for each state

How should states be represented in the legislature?

Large States Wanted representation in the

legislature based on population (more people, more power)

Virginia Plan-James MadisonRepresentation based on populationA two-house legislature

Should everyone be allowed to vote or just a select group?

Fans of Aristocracy Felt only the educated, upper class should

be allowed to vote & states do voting

Fans of Democracy Felt everyone (that was a white male)

should be able to vote

Should slaves be counted towards representation in Congress?

The South Wanted slaves to be counted for more

representation in the legislature (representation by population)

Should slaves be counted towards representation in Congress?

The North Felt slaves should not be counted

towards the South’s population Felt this way because slaves could not vote and were not citizens

Slaves were thought of as property in the South