Constitutional Convention Key Concepts

To revise and strengthen the Articles of Confederation

To write the constitution

To declare independence from Great Britain

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.

George Washington

Thomas Jefferson

James Madison

Benjamin Franklin

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

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

 An extremely adept politician from Virginia

 A world famous scientist

A civil rights leader.

A member of the Supreme Court

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

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.

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