The Virginia Plan and Constitutional Convention

The Virginia Plan

• The main author of the Virginia Plan was Edmund Randolph.
• The Plan proposed the executive branch to be run by one person.
• The number of members each state would receive in both houses of the legislature was determined by the state's population.

The Constitutional Convention

• The Virginia Plan went beyond the intended purpose of the Constitutional Convention by proposing a strong central government.
• Most delegates favored strengthening the national government due to the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation.

The Debate between Large and Small States

• The main difference between the large-state 'nationalists' and the small-state 'states' righters' was the representation of states in the legislative branch.
• The large-state nationalists, such as James Madison, wanted representation based on population, while the small-state states' righters, such as William Paterson, wanted equal representation.

The New Jersey Plan

• William Paterson's main contribution was the New Jersey Plan, which proposed a unicameral legislative branch with equal representation for each state.
• The Plan also proposed a plural executive branch and a supreme court.

The Concerns of Small States

• The main concern raised by small states about the Virginia Plan was that they would be overpowered by the larger states.

The Need for Compromise

• A compromise was necessary at the Constitutional Convention due to the conflicting interests of the large and small states.

The Slavery Compromise

• Northern delegates agreed to let the slave trade continue without government interference for 20 years in order to gain the support of Southern states.
• The power of Congress over the President was the ability to impeach and remove them from office.

The Election of the President

• The Constitutional Convention decided against direct election of the President due to fears of factionalism and the potential for a demagogue to gain power.
• Congress was given the power to declare war on other nations.

The Election of the President and Vice President

• During the early years of the United States, the President and Vice President were elected by the Electoral College.

The Three-Fifths Compromise

• The Three-Fifths Compromise counted slaves as three-fifths of a person for representation and taxation purposes.
• The compromise led to conflict between Northern and Southern delegates, with the North considering it unfair and the South seeing it as necessary for their economy.

The Impact of the Three-Fifths Compromise

• The Three-Fifths Compromise impacted the representation of states in Congress, with Southern states gaining more representation due to their slave population.
• It also impacted taxation, with Southern states paying more taxes due to their larger population.

The Controversy of the Slave Trade Compromise

• The controversy surrounding the Slave Trade Compromise reflected the differing views of delegates on the issue of slavery.
• The compromise was seen as a necessary evil by some, while others viewed it as a moral outrage.

The Unfairness of Counting Slaves

• Northern delegates considered the counting of slaves for representation as unfair because it gave the South more power and influence.

The Lasting Impact of the Three-Fifths Compromise

• The Three-Fifths Compromise became known as a 'strange' compromise due to its unusual nature and its lasting impact on the representation of slaves in Congress.