CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION

Constitutional Convention



Constitutional Convention

Thesis statement

The constitutional convention was the beginning of one of America's greatest documents. There were many drafts presented to the convention, but only one was ratified. The constitution has helped shape America because of the twenty-eight amendments that were brought to the table by the delegates.

Introduction

In September 1786, a gathering was called in Annapolis, Maryland to deliberate on the state of commerce throughout the nation. The national government had no power to control trade amongst the states. The conference was called to deliberate ways to ease commerce and establish standard guidelines and regulations. The conference was called by Virginia, at the desire of one of its greatest intelligence of the time, James Madison. Only five of the 13 states sent any delegates at all (Mont, 2006).

Unable to come to the conclusion, the assembled organization, most of whom were nationalists, anxious for a more forceful national government, decided that another conference was needed to explore the insufficiencies of the United States under the articles of confederation, and suggest changes to the articles. The report of the Annapolis conference was the first step toward the consutional convention that would eventually create the constitution (Mont, 2006).

In Philadelphia on a sweltering day in May 1787, several delegates from different states gathered to create one of the greatest documents of all times, the constitution. The delegates from all the original states except Rhode Island gathered. The delegates nominated George Washington as the presiding officer and from there these men spent four months behind closed door.

The first person to arrive who later became known as the father of the Constitution was James Madison, he came to the convention to represent the state of Virginia. Madison arrived two weeks prior to gather his thoughts and ideas for the convention. Madison came up with several ideas. His first idea was that the articles needed replaced instead of being amended. His second suggestion was that a strong powerful central government was needed to balance out the powers that the state and the governments hold. Madison?s third idea that he presented was that an extended republic was the importance to sorting the different levels of government in a way that would improve the majority despotism to achieve within the states, in turn it will defend the rights of the people and the general good of all the people (Kauffmann, 2007).

Background

Kauffmann (2007) These convictions ?found their way into the Virginia Plan, which Madison, in consultation with Edmund Randolph, James Wilson, Alexander Hamilton, and in his many similarities with Tom Jefferson in Paris, submitted to the convention as a base for conversation? (para. 20). The Virginia Plan brought forth a national government complete with different levels of the government.

There can be no doubt Madison was its foremost author, and despite the many alterations that were made to it, the plan was strong enough to stay in the running. States with a sizable population, such as Virginia, would therefore have additional representatives than less populated ...