Constitutional+Convention

Delegates that Attended the Convention //Italics// means were present but refused to sign
 * New Hampshire**- John Langdon, Nicholas Gilman,
 * Massachusetts**- //Elbridge Gerry//, Rufus King, Caleb Strong*, Nathaniel Gorham
 * Connecticut**- Roger Sherman, William Samuel Johnson, Oliver Ellsworth*
 * New York**- Alexander Hamilton, John Lansing, Jr.*, Robert Yates*,
 * New Jersey**- William Patterson, William Livingston, Jonathon Dayton, David Brearly, William Churchill Houston*
 * Pennsylvania**- Benjamin Franklin, Robert Morris, James Wilson, Gouverneur Morris, Thomas Mifflin, George Clymer, Thomas FitzSimmons, Jared Ingersoll,
 * Delaware**- John Dickinson, George Read, Richard Bassett, Gunning Bedford, Jr., Jacob Broom
 * Maryland**- Luther Martin*, Daniel Carroll, John Francis Mercer*, James McHenry, Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer
 * Virginia**- George Washinton, James Madison, //George Mason, Edmund Jennings Randolph,// James Blair, Jr.,
 * North Carolina**- WIlliam Richardson Davie*, Hugh Williamson, William Blount, Alexander Martin*
 * South Carolina**- John Rutledge, Charles Cotesworth Pinkney III
 * Georgia**- Abraham Baldwin, William Leigh Pierce*, William Houstoun*, William Few
 * Not present on September 17th for the Signing of the Constitution

· Delegates started arriving on may 14th, however, many of the 55 men slated to be present and 12 states from whence they came weren’t represented in full until weeks later. · The weather was generally dreary, rainy, hot and humid for a majority of the first week, and a requisite of 7 states represented wasn’t met until the 25th (with the arrival of New Jersey) due in most part to the weather. · Formal meetings started on the 25th where George Washington was unanimously voted to be president of the convention. · The delay in the starting of the convention was utilized by the delegates of Virginia to draft the infamous 15 point Virginia plan for proposal; this plan was a completely new governing document, as opposed amendments to the Articles of Confederation that the convention was originally planned for. · Small states and Delaware in particular were alarmed by the Virginia plan, as they feared the bias towards high population states that it had. · It comes to the attention of the convention that the Society of Cincinnati has been planning a military coup, but the convention ignores it as they lack support and materials. · An oath to secrecy is enacted during the first hours of the convention to prevent stirring up the public about what is discussed; they fear that open discussion of the convention will anger many into making the convention inefficient. A bodyguard was given to Ben Franklin to keep him quiet: as he was known to be a wine-and-conversation lover. · George Wythe heads a committee that completes the rules of the convention in the second week. · Virginia officially announces their 15-point plan which diverts discussion towards drafting a new constitution. · Almost unanimously the delegates decide that there will be 3 branches of government, of which the Legislative will have two houses. The lower house will be elected directly by the people (to keep confidence of the people), and the national congress was to have an ultimate veto/supremacy. · Discussion ensued over whether or not the executive branch should be a single person or “plural” · A proposal was put forth to have a single president elected by an Electoral College. It suffered a crushing defeat. · The convention leaned towards a president who served 7 years that was elected by congress. · A proposal was put forth to not pay the president to prevent the corruption of his mind by money and greed, but that was dismissed because only rich elites would be able to afford presidential office, which would develop a bias. · John Adams, who wasn’t present because he was the minister to England, had recently written a book that described a new system of government, which included a system of checks and balance. As we know, this had a substantial effect on the shaping of the constitution. · At this point in the convention 11 states were now present · It was discussed that there would be one chief executive with a “qualified veto” that meant it could be overturned by congress. · They decided that with the judicial branch, there would be one Supreme Court, and inferior courts run by the states. Debate ensued over how many justices, terms, and who appointed them. · Upper house was decided to have one representative per state, and that representative was elected by the state legislatures. · Upper house (senate as it was called) was designed to cool any passions that went rampant in the House. ** Week #4 (June 7th –June 12th)** · This week opened with heated debate over whether or not the national congress should have supreme veto power over state laws, which small states feared could be used by the large states to develop a tyranny. This proposal eventually was defeated in favor of the small states. · Later debate literally reached an emotionally explosive climax over whether or not the congress should be represented proportionally to population or equally. This was where the infamous 3/5th’s compromise was first proposed. · To cool emotions over the representation matter, the convention moved to smaller issues for a change, such as ratification methods of the new constitution, and the eligibility, terms limits, and qualifications of congressmen. In all 15 things were passed in one day, a record for the congress. · The convention then discussed the Virginia plan further, and eventually expanded its 15 points to 19. · They closed out this week by postponing the passing of the Virginia plan to allow for the smaller states to congregate and formulate a counter proposal for debate. · William Patterson introduced the 9-point plan that was the New Jersey plan. · Alexander Hamilton soon thereafter introduced his third party plan, which was dismissed, as it included things such as a president for life, which too greatly resembled a monarchy. · Point by point demolition of the New Jersey plan by Colonel Madison then ensued, which the states accepted, and they changed tactics to compromising over more restrictive issues. · The first compromise was that the house would be proportional to population, and the senate would have equal votes per state.
 * WEEK #1 (May 18th -May 24th)**
 * WEEK #2 (May 25th –May 31st)**
 * WEEK #3 (June 1st –June 6)**
 * WEEK #5 (June 13th –June 21st)**

** WEEK # 6 (June 22nd to June 28th) **
 * Debate over state or national treasury pays national congress members
 * Debate over preventing corruption in the national congress
 * Debated over whether or not state officeholders could run for national office positions
 * James Madison proposed that national legislatures cannot apply for a federal office until 1 year after their term expires. Voted down 8 to 2.
 * Some delegates believed corruption could not be prevented while others believed that corruption could be regulated with laws.
 * Argued over the commitment of national legislative members, they should lay aside state connections (greater good).
 * Concluded on a 9 to 2 vote that the National Senate would be elected by the State Legislatures.
 * Majority vote concluded a 6 year term for National Senators
 * debated over proportional representation in the House and Senate, “4 states would govern 9”
 * Discussed opening each day of the convention with prayers (proposed by Ben Franklin), voted down due to lack of funds and public image (things going poorly).

** WEEK # 7 (June 29th to July 5th) **
 * Voted down once again equal voting in the National Legislature
 * Colonel Alexander Hamilton departed Philadelphia due to the deadlock and personal reasons.
 * Voted again at a deadlock for equal voting in the National Legislature.
 * Voted to create committee to resolve deadlocks, consisted of 11 delegates, one from each state. Grand Committee was created.
 * A compromise was created: makeup of the lower house would be based on population (40,000 people per representative), and in the upper house each state would get an equal vote. The lower house would have exclusive power over originating taxes money bills.

** WEEK # 8 (July 6th to July 12th) **
 * Compromise was submitted to vote, debate over power of originating money bills ensued. Some argued that it wasn’t a concession.
 * Vote over retaining money bill section of compromise passed 5 to 3 with 3 divided. Lower house now had exclusive power to originate money bills.
 * Voted for equal representative votes in the Senate (one per state), 6 states to 3 with 2 divided.
 * New York representatives left, now leaving only 10. The Convention was on the verge of collapse due to constant disagreement.
 * Plan submitted to temporarily have 56 members of the lower house (admitted to be a guess), and the Senate would have the power to regulative the number of representatives based on wealth and population. It was challenged because Northern states saw the potential for slaves to balance the scale in favor of the south.
 * James Madison proposed that the number be doubled, voted down on terms of being too expensive.
 * Edmund Randolph proposed that the Senate issue a census to determine population and wealth for representation in the lower house. Put on hold due to the belief that new Western states would grow to overpower Atlantic states.
 * A census issued every 15 years was approved, but agreements on the representation of slaves went to a stalemate. Suggested to count slaves as 3/5 of a person, but this was voted down 6 to 4, and in turn, the issue of representation in the lower house had made no progress all week as of Wednesday.
 * Issue brought up again on the representation of slaves, majority vote of 6 to 2 with 2 divided, delegates approved representation and taxation based on a state’s white population and 3/5 of its black population.

** WEEK # 9 (July 13th to July 19th) **
 * Representation based upon wealth was unanimously rejected.
 * Charles Pinckney proposed a plan for 36 seats in the Senate based on population, after debate, the plan was voted down 6 States to for 4.
 * Delegates agreed on a compromise, 5 votes to 4 with 1 divided, to have equal representation in the Senate and proportional representation in the House of Representatives. This saved the convention from falling apart.
 * On Tuesday, the majority voted in favor of the proposed Congress to have the power to legislate in cases affecting the general welfare of the population and in areas where the States were separately incompetent.
 * Agreed that all laws and treaties passed by the National Legislature would be the supreme law of all of the states.
 * Agreed upon the fact that the Executive position would be singular rather than plural.
 * On Wednesday, it was unanimously established that there would be a Supreme Court. Voted on the power for the Executive to appoint judges. Lost 4 to 4 with one state absent. It was agreed that the issue would be discussed at a later date.
 * On Thursday, the delegates voted in favor that the Executive would be chosen by electors appointed by the State Legislatures. His term would be six years.

** WEEK # 10 (July 20th to July 26th) ** -**//Funny Note//**: Ben Franklin said that in the past, the alternative to impeachment of an obnoxious leader was assassination. “He was not only deprived of his life, but also of his chance to vindicate his character”. On Thursday, delegates agreed on a single, 7 year Executive who could not seek reelection ** WEEK # 11 (July 27th to August 2nd) ** ** WEEK # 12 (August 3rd to August 9th) ** ** WEEK # 13 (August 10th to August 16th) ** ** WEEK # 14 (August 17th to August 23rd) ** ** WEEK # 15 (August 24th to August 30th) ** ** WEEK # 16 (August 31st to September 6th) ** ** WEEK # 17 (September 7th to September 13th) **
 * Agreed upon the concept of impeachment if the Executive was convicted on malpractice or neglect of duty.
 * Debated over the Executive power of the veto and the legislative counterbalances.
 * Voted in favor of the Senate appointing judges rather than the Executive.
 * The New Hampshire delegates arrived, after John Langdon decided to pay the travel fare out of his own pocket. “I rather pay money than see New Hampshire unrepresented”.
 * On Monday, the delegates debated over how the new Constitution be ratified. Argued whether the state legislatures or the people would vote. Argued that the legislatures would lose power, and would oppose it, and the people were incompetent, and they couldn’t agree on anything.
 * Created a Committee of Detail, which consisted of 5 delegates (2 from the North, 1 from the Middle and 2 from the South), to begin drafting the document.
 * Delegates changed their minds and restored the power of determining the Executive to Congress, rather than electors chosen by the State Legislatures.
 * The Constitution written by the Iroquois Confederation was read aloud by John Rutledge during the first session of the Committee of Detail. Mr. Rutledge was also expected to draw from sources like The Articles of Confederation, Virginia and New Jersey Plans, and the Randolph Resolutions.
 * So far only a major news story has reached the Press that talked about the Committee of Detail.
 * Was the job of the Committee of Details to make the language of the Constitution to be simple and precise.
 * Delegates have been receiving letters saying that rumor have spread about the second son of George III will be the monarch that will govern the country.
 * There has been a verbal war between the governor of New York, George Clinton and the Convention supporter Alexander Hamilton.
 * The Convention received a letter from the good man Thomas Jefferson denouncing any idea that a monarch would ever be placed on the government the representatives are trying to create.
 * This week, the Committee of Detail drafted first Constitution and was printed out so every delegate could have a copy.
 * After every single word was read aloud, there was an unanimous vote for approval of the first two Articles and it was voted on that white males without land are now allowed to vote. This approval also included the name of the country to be The United States of America.
 * An explosive debate erupted within the room when they got to the issue of slaves being counted with the rules of representation.
 * To be able to serve as a legislator from your state as a foreign born, the person would have to have lived in the state for a grand total of nine years.
 * The only qualification to be a Congressmen are: citizenship, residency, and the age requirement. To own property has been discarded as a qualification.
 * The Legislative body is to publish journals from time to time.
 * A debate ensued on which house in Congress would tax the people.
 * The delegates agreed that the Congressmen would be paid out of the national treasury instead of by the state governments.
 * Gouverneur Morris of Pennsylvania was determined to give the President absolute veto power or that the override power of Congress be upped to three fourths of each house. The issue was later postponed/
 * Thursday was when Congress was given the powers to: levy and collect taxes, regulate interstate and foreign commerce, coin money, regulate the value of foreign coin, fix standard weights and measures, and establish the post offices. It was also agreed on that paper money was not allowed to be printed.
 * James Madison and Eldbridge Gerry asked the Convention to change Congress's power from to make war to declare war and the leave the the President with the "power of repealing sudden attacks."
 * It was unanimously approved that the national government is allowed to raise and support an army, but the issue of state militias and standing armies lead to some heated discussions.
 * The new Grand Committee of Eleven was created on Saturday the 18th, 1787 and was designed to compromise the issues that were being postponed and not solved among a smaller group of compromising people.
 * The section that would define the crime of treason was created that Monday, and sure enough debate ensued when if there should be two treason hearing, one for the state then national courts, or just the national ones. It took a grand total of seven different votes to decide on the 54 words that would make up the section on treason.
 * The writ of //habeaus corpus// was forbidden to be taken away by Congress, except in cases of rebellion or invasion.
 * **This was the week that the necessary and proper clause was added into the Constitution.**
 * One of the angriest session broke out mid week when the issue on taxing slaves came up and the suggestion of slaves being regulated by interstate commerce. This debate continued for a few days before being postponed.
 * Thursday, the states decided to give up there authority of state militias, and gave the national government supreme authority in that realm. Later a vote was cast to have the national laws to have supreme veto over state laws and it was voted down by one vote.
 * The joint ballot was approved, but the first proposal of the electoral college was distrust because of everyone had a common fear of a too powerful president.
 * The Convention was able to agree on a date to end the slave trade (1808) and a $10 dollar importation tax was put on all slaves that came to The United States of America.
 * The people outside of the Convention were hearing rumors that the delegates were thinking of putting in a monarch, so letters were sent out saying that the rumor was false.
 * This week was when the Supreme Court was discussed. It was agreed upon that the highest court could not accept all cases that came to there door, so the delegates put in that the Court was allowed to accept or dismiss cases. The Court could not pick and choose laws they didn't like either, a case between two parties, one basing their rights on the Constitution and the other saying the Constitution infringed upon their rights, were some cases that they could accept. The Supreme Court also has final appeal over lower courts.
 * Paper money was almost absolutely banned by almost all the delegates, laws regarding //ex post facto// could not be passed by Congress.
 * Pickney tried again to cause chaos by bringing up the point that the slave holding states would be a minority in the two houses and he was politely told to shut his mouth. The fugitive slave provision was quickly voted upon and written in after that.
 * All new states that joined the union would have a republican form of government set up and that they would receive protection from foreign and domestic violence.
 * The new Constitution, when the delegates were done with it, was to go to special state conventions to be ratified.
 * The Committee of Eleven went to work this week on the postponed issues that they have been assigned to compromise on.
 * In the regular debating room, the delegates decided that Congressmen could not carry on a separate civil office and vice versa for the civil office holders.
 * In the early week, the Committee of Eleven came back with a solution for the problem of electing the president. It was the electoral college system except this time the electorates that would be the final voters that would vote for the president. The votes would be counted by the Senate and if there was a tie, the Senate would vote on the top 5 candidates with the most votes.
 * This plan had some major flaws for many people saying that the Senate was now getting to much power over everything. In the end it was passed but in case of a tie, the House of Representatives would vote.
 * [[image:preamble-to-the-constitution.jpg width="311" height="390" align="right"]] The Vice President didn't have a job til that Friday when it was brought up and what his responsibilities would be. It was a major issue because many people said we did not even need a vice president. It eventually was voted that there would be one and that he would be the President of the Senate.
 * Committee of Five (I know original), also known as the Committee of Style, was created the Saturday to rework the wording of the Constitution and rearrange the order of the 23 sections.
 * Debate between the Northern and Southern States about who should make the treaties, in the end the President would create them and the Senate would ratify them with a two-thirds majority vote.
 * The day of recess of the week let the Committee of Style to make the final finishing touches and to rewrite the old preamble of each states name to "We the People ..."[[image:file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/MARKJR%7E1/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot-15.png]]
 * Six days before the conclusion of the Convention, the Bill of Rights issue was brought up again by George Mason, but the proposal was defeated 10-1. Even his home state of Virginia.
 * On September 12, 1787, the final draft of the Constitution was brought before the delegates in the Convention and looked over.
 * The next couple days will be to try and convince Eldbridge Gerry, George Mason, and Edmund Randolph to sign the Constitution.

** WEEK # 18 (August 14th to August 18th) **


 * The three dissenters still will not sign the document and each gave a speech about why they wouldn't.
 * After 81 continuous days of session, 400 plus hours of debates, and 566 votes, the Convention produced a 4000 word document consisting of 89 sentences and about 140 provisions.
 * 116 days after first convening on September 17, 1787, 39 out of 42 delegates at the Court House signed the brand spanking new Constitution of the United States of America and Major William Jackson left the 18th to head to the Continental Congress so that they could look over it, but not needing to approve it.

** References ** Kennedy, David M., Lizabeth Cohen, and Thomas Andrew Bailey. //The American Pageant: a History of the Republic//. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2006. Print.

Middlekauff, Robert. //The Glorious Cause: the American Revolution, 1763-1789//. New York: Oxford UP, 1982. Print.

St, John Jeffrey. //Constitutional Journal: a Correspondent's Report from the Convention of 1787//. Ottawa, IL: Jameson, 1987. Print.