jan 1, 1787 - Constitutional Convention
Description:
Washington was elected chair of the convention, by everyone who showed up (All states but Rhode Island). Many famous people were there, such as James Madison (the Father of the Constitution), Thomas Paine, Patrick Henry, & Thomas Jefferson, and all of the members were nationalistic elites.
The goals of the convention were to protect against tyranny by the government, as well as tyranny by the people. It also wanted to balance large and small state's interests.
Two plans were put forth to decide on the Parliament-like government. The Jersey Plan was a one house Congress with equal representation for all. The Virginia Plan was a two-house congress where representation was based on population. They eventually decided on the Great Compromise, which was a two-house Congress in which one, the Senate, had equal representation, while the other, the House of Republicans, had representation based on population.
Due to the great compromise, a debate began over whether slaves should count towards the population. The North said no, while the South said yes. It was eventually decided that slaves would count as 3/5 of a person.
The Constitution said that the government can raise taxes, regulate commerce, and have a standing military.
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