Political Science 001 Research
How many delegates attended college?
About half of the individuals (31 attended college) had attended or graduated from college in the British North American colonies or abroad. (24 did not attend college)
How many owned or operated plantations based on slave labor? How many were slave-holders?
Acceptable answers: 12 or 17 owned or managed slave-operated plantations or large farms
How many were manual laborers?
Broom and Few (2) were small farmers.
What were the rules for voting at the Constitutional Convention? Which rules made it possible for the compromise to occur?
One state = One vote No vote on any matter would be binding until final vote was taken on a full The debates were kept secret.
Overall, how would you describe the economic status of the delegates? How many were "self-made" men?
Others were self-made men who had risen from humble beginnings: Few, Franklin, Gorham, Hamilton, and Sherman. (5)
Which state sent the most delegates to the Convention? Which state sent no delegates to the Convention?
Pennsylvania sent the most delegates (8), Rhode Island did not send delegates.
What other types of political experience did the delegates have? How many earned a substantial part of their income from public office?
Practically all of the 55 delegates had experience in colonial and state government. The majority had held county and local offices. Nine of the men received a substantial part of their income from public office
Over what issues did the delegates disagree? What were the key competing sets of interests regarding each issue (i.e., who wanted what)?
Representation between small and large states Representation of slaves (as property to be taxed or could be used as representation). North vs. South Debate over executive (#, powers, etc.) Control of commerce and trade: the states or national government? North. vs. South Debate to include a Bill of Rights. Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists
Other than formal school-based education, how were delegates educated?
Self-taught and had received scant formal training. Others had obtained instruction from private tutors or at academies.
On what issues did the delegates agree prior to the start of the Constitutional Convention?
The need for a stronger, central government That slavery (or the abolition thereof) would not be a point of issue.
How many of the delegates were involved directly in business and trade?
13 individuals were businessmen, merchants, or shippers
How many delegates had lived and/or worked in more than one state (or colony)?
16 individuals had already lived or worked in more than one state or colony
How many delegates had been members of the Continental Congress?
41
How many delegates had signed the Articles of Confederation?
48
How many delegates had signed the Declaration of Independence?
56
How many were financiers, buying and selling land and/or stocks and bonds?
6 were major land speculators; 11 speculated in securities on a large scale
How many delegates were not born in the United States?
8
What were some of the "time bombs" being experienced by the states under the Articles of Confederation? In other words, identify Congress' weaknesses; what did it fail to do?
Congress can't tax; collect revenue Congress can't regulate trade/commerce No national currency system Can't provide national security or foreign policy No accountability, i.e. Shays' Rebellion.
Ultimately, what compromises did the delegates agree to? For what reason(s) did each side ultimately agree to each of the proposed compromises? How did these compromises satisfy each set of interests?
Great Compromise (small states represented by equality by the Senate; large states represented through the House of Representatives through population) 3/5th Compromise (South received representation through their slaves; North benefited that representation counted for only 3/5ths) Sectional Compromise (Congress extends slave trade for 20 years which benefited the South and the national government was charged of regulating trade which benefited the North) Executive Compromise (single Executive through president with shared powers) Bill of Rights Compromise (Congress will pass Bill of Rights if Anti-Federalists support Constitution's ratification)
What was the most common occupation among the delegates?
Lawyers (35)
