united states known grand convention philadelphia took place september philadelphia pennsylvania convention intended revise intention outset proponents chief create new government fix existing delegates elected george_washington convention result convention creation united_states_constitution placing convention significant events history united_states contentious disputes revolved composition election senate proportional representation defined include slaves property divide executive power persons invest power single president elect president long term run reelection offenses nature fugitive slave clause allow abolition slave trade judges chosen legislature executive time convention spent deciding issues powers legislature executive judiciary heavily disputed convention began delegates agreed principles convention agreed madison virginia plan began modify assembled july produced rough draft rough draft remained place found final version constitution final issues resolved produced final version voted sent states historical context constitution drafted nearly million inhabitants newly independent states governed created soon evident nearly confederation government originally organized inadequate managing conflicts arose states amended unanimous vote states state effective veto power proposed change addition articles gave weak federal government power wholly dependent states money power force states pay immediate task winning american revolutionary war passed states began look interests disputes arose included dispute maryland virginia opposition rhode_island imposing taxes traffic passing post road linked states suggested state governments appoint commissioners consideration trade united_states examine relative situation trade said states consider far uniform system commercial regulations necessary common interests permanent harmony september convention delegates states called order discuss possible improvements took place philadelphia rhode_island fearing convention work disadvantage convention constitution states initially refused convention difficulty travel late 18th century selected delegates present designated day seven states secured new_hampshire delegates join convention halfway proceedings july arrived soon virginia delegation arrived waiting delegates virginia delegation produced designed written convened george_washington unanimously elected president convention agreed discussions votes kept secret conclusion meeting elected secretary records brief included little detail madison notes debates supplemented notes remain complete record convention debate delegates constantly referred history support position commonly referred history england particular glorious revolution simply called revolution classical history mainly leagues recent holland germany outside convention philadelphia national washington said embarrassed old republican delegates like found military hereditary new_york convention meeting confession dropping faith requirement civil authority prohibit false worship protestant washington attended roman catholic mass dinner revolution veteran petitioned convention avoid national oath including belief old new merchants providence rhode_island petitioned consideration assembly sent delegation came directly new_york found frequent dinner guest delegates carried grants million acres parcel found attending convention philadelphia guest write pamphlet citizen america immediately signing leading principles advocated adoption constitution published earlier widely circulated today better known papers blueprint waiting convention formally begin initial draft known reflected views strong nationalist time rest virginia delegation arrived pennsylvania delegation arrived agreed madison plan formed came predominant coalition time convention started assembled madison virginia plan plan didn coalition plan madison plan starting point convention agreed principles importantly agreed convention mandate merely amend instead produce new constitution outright delegates thought illegal closer treaty sovereign states national constitution genuine legal problems limited principle agreed new government powers plus additional powers states agreeing principles convention voted virginia plan signaled approval began modifying madison plan operated assumptions seriously challenged raised objections planned congress separate executive function separate judicial function english law typically recognized government having separate functions law making embodied legislature law executing embodied king courts division legislature executive judiciary natural point division legislature upper lower house wasn questioned despite obscure origins role representative hereditary nobility americans seldom known britain state governments main exceptions dysfunctional confederation congress pennsylvania legislature seen quickly partisan extremes election experience convinced delegates upper house necessary lower classes interests wealthy merchants landowners america native hereditary aristocracy character upper house designed protect interests wealthy elite minority interests lower classes constituted majority population thursday june proposed senators chosen directly state instead popular vote method likely preserve power upper classes convention delegate massachusetts observed great interest provided mode election better represented state choose second branch proposal carried unanimously delegates agreed madison executive function independent legislature power american created state governments executive legislature late widely seen source confederation government ultimate example furthermore english tradition judges seen agents king court represented realm madison believed american states direct link state executives judges source corruption patronage thought link severed creating branch judiciary direct precedent point madison believe judiciary truly independent legislature executive convention sided madison legislature choose judges believed president choose judges compromise eventually reached president choose judges senate confirm areas madison plan included provisions little support delegates agreed madison legislature able state laws idea dropped thought mechanism bad laws congress agreed madison board executive judges decide instead power given solely executive form veto thought useful protect executive worried imperial legislature new jersey plan introduced protest excessive national character virginia plan seriously considered office vice president included later mainly provide president successor unable complete term early debate state allowed cast single vote proposal debates accordance majority opinion state delegates convention delegates regularly come present typical day consequently state delegates equally divided views given proposal state delegates attendance establish delegation votes cast particular proposal state delegation essentially effect outcome vote proposal example new_york delegates abandoned convention mid july intention returning new_york left unable vote proposals convention hamilton continue periodically attend occasionally speak debates area major dispute manner lower house minority wanted states equal weight seriously considered wanted accordance mixture property population discussion property purpose issue property later dropped difficulty assumption property closely population accepted desire slave states count slaves population status raised major objection compromise assessing population adding number free persons persons slaves agreed dispute attempting assess national taxation system considered ratio achieve compromise resulted large coalition states including small slave states south_carolina georgia backing virginia plan expanding power primary coalition lower house elected directly voters accepted major dispute contentious lower house question upper house agreed madison members elected lower house suggested election popular vote versus election state legislature proposal shot delegates delegates didn question intelligence voters concerned information spread late 18th century time convention noted local newspapers said little current events little dated local papers said little meeting convention proposed extending term office senators life considering earlier proposals seven years inefficient enable rich born distinct permanent share government check democracy hamilton proposed senators elected directly general public chosen purpose problems direct election new constitution seen radical break old system delegates elected state convention agreed retain method senators constitutional change radical difficult problem issue connecticut delegation offered compromise number representatives state lower house based relative size state population number representatives upper house states size large states fearing influence legislature plan opposed proposal unable reach agreement delegates decided leave issue consideration later meeting delegates couldn agree executive single person board wished limit power executive supported proposal divide executive power persons possible problems system addition knowledge george_washington probably president fears proponents singular executive accumulate large coalition issue came occasionally matter settled seriously doubted issue concerned election president agreed madison executive elected legislature widespread concern direct election information slowly late 18th century concerns people vote candidates state region vocal minority wanted national executive chosen governors states issue major issues resolved electoral college time formation modern political parties widespread concern candidates routinely fail secure majority electoral college method resolving problem contested issue thought house choose president closely reflected people caused delegates smaller states realized states disadvantage resolve dispute convention agreed house elect president candidate electoral college majority state delegation vote individually convention entering second month decided consideration question representatives national legislature referred committee composed delegate states present time convention members come known included report convention july committee offered compromise large states opposed felt gave power smaller states proposal important modifications added requirement revenue bills originate lower house subject modification upper house clause later modified revenue bills amended upper house senate proposal specified senator state delegation vote state multiple senators meant senators voting individually state delegates senators free agents presumably acting behalf state large mere agents state senate bring federal character government senators elected state state equally represented senate main aim smaller states simply madison earlier agreement replace word national word federal convinced delegates constitution federal character final document mixture madison original national constitution desired federal constitution delegates sought draft convention july august await report produce draft constitution chaired members including committee record minutes proceedings key surviving documents offer clues committee outline edits extensive notes second draft wilson edits committee final report convention evidence thought committee original decisions convention modifications plan sources provisions state plan produce draft author called remarkable copy paste job adopted rules preparing initial outline constitution include essential principles avoiding minor provisions change time stated simple precise language included committee report consisted numerous details convention discussed committee correctly viewed unlikely challenged committee proposal ultimately incorporated final version constitution debate examples details included grants members congress immunity comments jobs rules organizing house_of_representatives senate state governor determined new national government stronger confederation government national government power states urging committee went convention proposed stewart describes committee remade constitution altering critical agreements convention delegates enhancing powers states expense national government adding far reaching provisions convention discussed major change insisted meant sharply essentially unlimited powers cases general interests union convention weeks earlier agreed grant congress worried broad powers implied language agreed convention given national government power expense states outline committee replaced language list specific powers adopted strictly limit congress authority measures imposing taxes making treaties going war establishing post offices able completely convince members committee accept change course series drafts provision necessary proper clause eventually added likely wilson nationalist little concerned sovereignty individual states giving congress broad power laws shall necessary proper carrying execution powers powers constitution government united_states department officer thereof revision wilson draft placed specific limits states barring independently entering treaties printing money providing certain degree balance limits national government intended list powers addition wilson draft modified language supremacy clause adopted convention ensure national law precedence inconsistent state laws changes set final balance national state governments entered final document convention challenged dual sovereignty nation state fashioned wilson set radical changes introduced proved far contentious committee report presented convention day convention agreed appoint committee south_carolina warned dire consequences committee fail include slavery southern states allow southern agricultural exports fellow southern delegates delighted committee included provisions explicitly restricted congress authority ways favorable southern interests proposed language bar congress interfering slave trade prohibit taxation exports require legislation concerning regulation foreign commerce laws akin england navigation acts pass thirds houses congress rest committee report accepted challenge convention floor proposals provoke outrage northern delegates slavery opponents final report committee draft constitution constitutional plan madison virginia plan simply outline goals broad structure issued report committee continued meet early september modifications concluding debate month discussion relatively minor followed attempts alter draft successful wanted add property qualifications people hold office wanted prevent national government issuing paper money madison particular wanted push constitution direction virginia plan important change final version included agreement northern southern delegates congress end slave trade starting southern northern delegates agreed strengthen exchange removing requirement thirds congress agree navigation acts regulations commerce states foreign governments thirds requirement favored southern delegates thought congress pass navigation acts economically harmful convention finished draft new set unresolved questions sent different committees resolution considering questions related corpus freedom press executive council advise president committees addressed questions related slave trade assumption war debts new committee created address questions postponed members madison delegates shown greater desire compromise chosen reason convention wanted finish work home committee dealt questions related taxes war making patents relations indian tribes franklin compromise require money bills originate house biggest issue addressed presidency final compromise written madison committee input adopted wilson earlier plan choosing president electoral college settled method choosing president candidate electoral college majority madison thought nineteen times committee shortened president term seven years years freed president seek election initial term moved trials courts senate created office vice president roles succeed president unable complete term office senate committee transferred important powers senate president example power treaties appoint ambassadors controversial issue convention length president term president term limited problem resulted understanding president chosen congress decision president chosen instead electoral college reduced chance president congress shorter term eligibility election viable option near end convention mason emerged main force opposition fears increased convention moved madison vague virginia plan concrete plan argued attacks constitution motivated political ambition particular anticipation possibly facing rival future election main objection compromise allow congress pass navigation acts simple majority exchange strengthened slave provisions objections opposition office vice president complaints result changes couple mason succeeded adding high crimes clause convinced convention include second method ratification amendments report included mechanism constitutional amendment thirds states ask congress convention consideration amendments urging convention added virginia plan original method congress propose amendments states amendments constitution method despite successes grew increasingly unpopular delegates wanted bring convention business end return home convention drawing conclusion delegates prepared refer constitution committee style pen final version delegate raised objection civil trials wanted guarantee right jury trial civil matters mason saw larger opportunity mason told convention constitution include bill rights thought prepared hours agreed rest committee overruled wanted home thought delaying tactic time realized important issue absence bill rights main argument anti ratification convention delegates thought states protected individual rights constitution authorize national government away rights need include rights convention moved point delegates addressed couple minute issues importantly modified language required spending bills originate house_of_representatives accepted rejected senate new language empowered senate modify spending bills proposed house drafting signing final modifications appointed revise style arrange articles agreed house unlike committees members named committees included members different regions final committee included champions small states members favor strong national government calls states rights connecticut new_york pennsylvania virginia massachusetts wednesday september report committee style ordered printed convenience delegates days convention compared final version proceedings convention constitution ordered saturday september submitted signing september important change convention agreed king wanted prevent states interfering contracts convention took matter language inserted creating contract clause credited chief final document including stirring delegates pleased results thirteen left ceremony remaining refused sign virginia george mason virginia massachusetts demanded bill rights support constitution bill rights included constitution submitted states ratification states ratified constitution understanding bill rights soon follow shortly document signed proposed lower size congressional districts citizens similar measure proposed earlier failed vote george_washington spoke making substantive contribution text constitution supporting convention adopted debate sign document openly doubted united_states remain single unified nation years ultimately original delegates ended signing likely completely satisfied views summed said confess parts constitution present approve sure shall approve doubt convention obtain able better constitution sir find system approaching near perfection think enemies rhode_island sent delegates new_york delegates stay convention long george_washington stated document executed states colonel hamilton washington signed document moving state delegation north south custom convention delegates filed room sign names time document signed franklin gave speech involving sun painted washington chair recounted madison notes whilst members signing doctor franklin looking presidents chair rising sun happened painted observed members near painters found difficult distinguish art rising setting sun said course session hopes fears issue looked president able tell rising setting length happiness know rising setting sun constitution submitted states ratification article vii proposed plans plans introduced important plan virginia plan convention work matter modifying plan introduced plan wasn considered exact character lost history convention way new jersey plan introduced seriously considered mainly protest delegates thought excessively radical change offered plan convention way included executive serving life delegates felt closely resembled monarchy historians unsure speculated madison plan look moderate comparison connecticut compromise wasn plan offered connecticut delegation key ultimate ratification constitution included modified order appealing larger states virginia plan prior start convention delegates met drawing largely madison suggestions came came known known large state plan reason called father constitution presented virginia governor virginia plan proposed powerful legislature houses legislature determined lower house elected people upper house elected lower house executive exist solely ensure legislature carried selected legislature virginia plan created judiciary gave executive judiciary power veto subject new_jersey plan virginia plan introduced new_jersey delegate asked plan state equal representation congress exercising vote virginia plan threatened limit smaller states power making houses legislature population june small state caucus met create response virginia plan result new jersey plan known ultimately closer initial convention drafting amendments fix problems new jersey plan existing remain granted new powers power levy taxes force collection executive branch created elected congress plan allowed multi person executive executives serve single term subject recall request state governors plan created judiciary serve life appointed executives lastly laws set congress precedence state laws reported plan convention june ultimately rejected gave smaller states rallying point interests hamilton plan new jersey plan proposed plan known british plan resemblance british system strong centralized government plan hamilton advocated virtually away state sovereignty consolidating states single nation plan featured legislature lower house elected people years upper house elected chosen people serve life plan gave governor executive elected life term service absolute veto bills state governors appointed national legislature national legislature veto power state legislation hamilton presented plan convention june plan perceived thought plan considered resembled british system closely contemplated loss state authority states unwilling allow plan immediately finished laying south_carolina presented plan convention reduce writing evidence madison notes details somewhat vague confederation treaty thirteen states legislature senate house delegates house member thousand inhabitants house elect senators serve rotation years represent regions congress meet joint session elect president appoint members cabinet congress joint session serve court appeal resort disputes states provide plan debated referred connecticut compromise connecticut compromise forged connecticut proposed june sense blended virginia large state new_jersey small state proposals ultimately main contribution determining senate retaining federal character constitution sided house national legislature proposed proportion suffrage 1st branch house according respective numbers free inhabitants second branch senate state vote plan failed july question finally settled ultimately included constitution modified form plan added requirement revenue bills originate house state voting instructed state franklin modification free agents senate bring federal character government senators elected state state equally represented slavery controversial issues confronting delegates slavery slavery widespread states time convention convention delegates owned slaves including delegates virginia south_carolina slaves comprised approximately fifth population states apart northernmost new_england slavery largely eliminated slaves lived regions country majority slaves lived south approximately families owned slaves largest wealthiest state virginia figure nearly families entire economy south based slave labor southern delegates convention unwilling accept proposals believed threaten institution slavery regulated new constitution matter intense conflict north south southern states refused join union slavery allowed delegates opposed slavery forced yield demands slavery practiced confines new nation completely outlawed continued argue constitution prohibit states participating international slave trade including new slaves africa export slaves countries convention postponed making final decision international slave trade late contentious nature issue convention late july inserted language prohibit federal government attempting ban international slave trading imposing taxes purchase sale slaves convention agree provisions subject came late august referred matter member committee discussion committee helped work compromise congress power ban international slave trade years exchange concession federal government power regulate foreign commerce strengthened provisions allowed taxation slave trades international market reduced requirement passage navigation acts thirds houses congress simple contentious slavery related question slaves counted population determining representation states congress instead considered property considered purposes representation delegates states large population slaves argued slaves considered persons determining representation property new government levy taxes states basis population delegates states slavery rare argued slaves included taxation determining representation finally delegate proposed compromise eventually adopted convention delegates states originally appointed seventy representatives convention number accept attend leaving delegates ultimately craft constitution delegates taken revolution having served continental forces positions command served colonial state government careers vast majority delegates members members revolution state governors delegates signatories nation founding documents declaration independence constitution half delegates trained lawyers judges quarter practiced law principal means business merchants manufacturers land physicians minister small farmers owned slaves sixteen depended slave labor run plantations businesses formed income delegates landowners substantial holdings possible exception william comfortably wealthy george_washington wealthiest men entire country sign final draft constitution mason present philadelphia time refused sign names prominent founders notable having participated abroad serving minister france nonetheless jefferson letter describe delegates gathering gods britain serving minister country wrote home encourage delegates refused participate rat philadelphia tending monarchy absent states older experienced leaders simply busy local affairs states attend convention originally planned strengthen existing write constitution completely new national government
Constitutional Convention (United States)