Questions and Answers
What was the primary disagreement between delegates from large and small states during the convention?
Which plan proposed that each state would have one vote in the national legislature?
What was a consequence of the Act for the Gradual Abolition of Slavery in Pennsylvania?
Which state was among the first to free all enslaved people within its borders?
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What was a common belief among some Americans regarding slavery after the Revolution?
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How were representatives in the lower house of the Virginia Plan to be chosen?
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Why did southern states oppose interference with slavery in the Constitution?
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What action did delegates from Virginia propose for the legislative structure?
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What was the primary purpose of the meeting in Annapolis in 1786?
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Which state did not send delegates to the Philadelphia convention in 1787?
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What concern did delegates from small states express during the Constitutional Convention?
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What was the stance of the delegates regarding the balance between individual rights and government authority?
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Which concern was particularly significant to representatives from southern states during the convention?
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What event heightened fears of mob rule among the delegates?
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What was a common goal of the delegates at the Constitutional Convention?
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How many delegates attended the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in 1787?
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Study Notes
Early Meetings and Constitutional Goals
- In 1786, Virginia and Maryland convened a meeting in Annapolis, Maryland, to revise the Articles of Confederation, but only five states attended.
- All thirteen states' agreement was necessary to amend the Articles, rendering the Annapolis convention ineffective.
- Alexander Hamilton and James Madison urged all states to send delegates to a Philadelphia convention in 1787.
- Seventy delegates were appointed, with notable absences including John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, who were serving abroad as diplomats.
Constitutional Convention Dynamics
- The Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia began in May 1787 with fifty-five delegates.
- Delegates aimed to strengthen national authority while maintaining state autonomy, balancing the interests of collective governance with individual liberties.
- Concerns surfaced over the potential for mob rule and the need for law and order after events like Shays’ Rebellion.
- Southern states feared the abolition of slavery by northern delegates, while some northern representatives opposed slavery’s permanence in America.
- George Washington was unanimously elected president of the convention, reflecting his esteemed status due to his military leadership.
Representation Debates: Small vs. Large States
- A major point of conflict emerged between large states (e.g., Virginia) advocating for a bicameral legislature based on population and small states (e.g., Delaware) seeking equal representation.
- The Virginia Plan proposed a system where representation in both houses of the legislature would be tied to state population, with the lower house elected by popular vote.
- The New Jersey Plan countered with a unicameral legislature granting each state one vote, ensuring equal power regardless of size.
Slavery and Regional Divisions
- The northern states began abolishing slavery post-Revolution, with Pennsylvania’s 1780 law allowing gradual emancipation and Massachusetts freeing all enslaved people in 1783.
- Many Americans viewed slavery as incompatible with the principles of the Declaration of Independence and Christian teachings.
- Southern states, dependent on slavery for their agricultural economy, opposed any constitutional restrictions on the institution.
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Description
Explore the critical events surrounding the formation of the United States Constitution, including the Annapolis Convention of 1786. Discover the roles of key figures such as Alexander Hamilton and James Madison in this pivotal moment in American history.
