Constitutional Convention Key Concepts

Why was the Constitution Convention made in 1787

• To revise and strengthen the Articles of Confederation

• To write the constitution

• To declare independence from Great Britain

What was the Jersey Plan and the Virgina Plan?

• The Virginia Plan proposed that each state should have exactly two votes; the New Jersey Plan proposed that votes be distributed according to state wealth.

• The Virginia Plan recommended that state governors appoint national legislators; the New Jersey Plan recommended that Congress be elected by lottery.

• The Virginia Plan proposed a bicameral legislature with representation based on population; the New Jersey Plan proposed a unicameral legislature with equal representation for all states.

True or False: Northern states wanted slaves counted for taxes, not population

• True
• False

Which Significant Figures Attended

• George Washington

• Thomas Jefferson

• James Madison

• Benjamin Franklin

What was the “Great (Connecticut) Compromise”?

• Congress would have two chambers: House based on population, Senate with equal representation

• The President would be chosen by state governors

• All tax revenue would be handled by states, not federal government

• Slavery was immediately outlawed in all states

How was slavery addressed at the Convention?

• Enslaved people were fully counted as free persons for purposes of representation

• The Three-Fifths Compromise counted three-fifths of enslaved people toward representation (and taxation)

• Slavery was immediately outlawed in all states

• Each state was required to free enslaved people by 1790

Who was James Madison?

•  An extremely adept politician from Virginia

•  A world famous scientist

• A civil rights leader.

• A member of the Supreme Court

Which of the following best describes what the Three-Fifths Compromise decided at the Constitutional Convention?

• All enslaved people would be fully counted as free persons for representation but not for taxes

• Enslaved persons would not be counted at all for representation or taxes

• Five enslaved people would be counted as three free persons for purposes of representation and taxation

• Enslaved persons would be counted as one half (½) of a person for both representation and taxation

Which of the following was a shared agreement among the delegates at the Constitutional Convention?

• The national government should have the power to declare war without state approval.

• The national government should have the power to regulate interstate commerce.

• The national government should have the power to establish a national religion.

• The national government should have the power to issue paper currency.

Answer explanation

This was one of the shared agreements among the delegates, reflecting their desire to create a stronger central government capable of regulating trade between states.

What was a key feature of the Virginia Plan presented at the Constitutional Convention in 1787?

• A unicameral legislature with equal representation for all states

• A strong executive branch with a council of state governors

• A national judiciary with judges appointed by state legislatures

• A bicameral legislature with representation based on state population or financial contributions