The U.S. Constitution

Governor Morris

A gifted writer who was largely responsible for writing the preamble, or introduction to the U.S. Constitution.

Bill of Rights

Although the Anti-Federalists failed to block the ratification of the Constitution, they did ensure that the Bill of Rights would be created to protect individuals from government interference and possible tyranny. The Bill of Rights, drafted by a group led by James Madison, consisted of the first ten amendments to the Constitution, which guaranteed the civil rights of American citizens.

Benjamin Franklin

Arrived May 28 and was present through the signing of the Constitution. On June 28, when the Convention was in disarray, he suggested that "henceforth prayers imploring the assistance of Heaven, and its blessings on our deliberations, be held in this Assembly every morning before we proceed to business."

The New Jersey Plan

Called for strong government and 3 branches and one house of reps. Each state would have one rep. This plan would tax and regulate trade.

The Great Compromise

Combined aspects of the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan of government to create the House of Representatives (representation based on population) AND the Senate (representation is equal in all states)

James Wilson

Delegate from Pennsylvania that argued in favor of elections for the legislature.

Roger Sherman

During the 1787 Constitutional Convention, Sherman offered a solution to the amendment of the Articles of Confederation. This solution was to become known as the Great Compromise.

Key Framers of the U.S. Constitution

George Washington, James Madison, Benjamin Franklin, Governor Morris, Alexander Hamilton, Roger Sherman, John Dickenson

Alexander Hamilton

His most important contribution was the introduction and defense of the Hamilton plan on June 18, 1787,

James Madison

Madison had helped develop Virginia's Constitution 11 years earlier, and it was his "Virginia Plan" that served as the basis for debate in the development of the U.S. Constitution. Madison argued strongly for a strong central government that would unify the country. The Convention delegates met secretly through the summer and finally signed the proposed U.S. Constitution on September 17, 1787.

Ratification of the U.S. Constitution

The U.S. Constitution, ratified in 1788, led to the creation of a new national government on March 4, 1789. The Constitution created a republican form of government within a federal system, limited by a separation of powers.

The Preamble of the U.S. Constitution

The first part of the Constitution, expressed the reasons the Constitution was written, states the purposes of the US government, which are to form a more perfect union, to establish justice, to ensure domestic tranquility, to provide for the common defense, to promote general welfare, and to secure the blessings of liberty. Starts with "We the people". Establishes that the power of the government comes from the people.

Constitutional Convention

The meeting of state delegates in 1787 in Philadelphia called to revise the Articles of Confederation. It instead designed a new plan of government, the US Constitution.

The Virginia Plan

This called for 3 branches of government: Legislative, executive and judicial. This plan was favored by the larger states because the representation in Congress was proportioned based on each state's population.

John Dickinson

Wrote the Articles of Confederation. Pennsylvania.

The Articles of the Confederation

a contract between the people of the United States and the United States government. The responsibilities and authority of the three branches of government.

The U.S. Constitution

1787, 55 delegates from every state except Rhode Island met in Pennsylvania to write a new constitution. It establishes the form of the national government and defines the rights and liberties of the American people.

Three-Fifths Compromise

An agreement worked out at the Constitutional Convention stating that only three-fifths of the slaves in a state would count when determining its population for representation

George Washington

President of the Constitutional Convention