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What ended up happening at the convention?
The Constitutional Convention took place from May 14 to September 17, 1787, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The point of the event was decide how America was going to be governed. Although the Convention had been officially called to revise the existing Articles of Confederation, many delegates had much bigger plans.
What was the biggest disagreement at the convention?
How the Articles of Confederation failed and delegates met to create a new constitution. The major debates were over representation in Congress, the powers of the president, how to elect the president (Electoral College), slave trade, and a bill of rights.
Who was at the Constitutional Convention of 1787?
The delegates included many of the leading figures of the period. Among them were George Washington, who was elected to preside, James Madison, Benjamin Franklin, James Wilson, John Rutledge, Charles Pinckney, Oliver Ellsworth, and Gouverneur Morris.
Why was the Constitutional Convention postponed to May 14?
Originally planned to begin on May 14, the convention had to be postponed when very few of the selected delegates were present on that day due to the difficulty of travel in the late 18th century. On May 14, only delegates from Virginia and Pennsylvania were present.
What was the most difficult issue at the Constitutional Convention?
One of the most difficult issues confronting the delegates was that of slavery. Slavery was widespread in the states at the time of the Convention. At least a third of the Convention’s 55 delegates owned slaves, including all of the delegates from Virginia and South Carolina.
When did delegates call for a constitutional convention?
In September 1786, at the Annapolis Convention, delegates from five states called for a Constitutional Convention in order to discuss possible improvements to the Articles of Confederation.
What was the issue of slavery at the Constitutional Convention?
Though the word “slavery” does not appear in the Constitution, the issue was central to the debates over commerce and representation. The “Three-Fifths Compromise” provided that three-fifths (60%) of enslaved people in each state would count toward congressional representation, increasing the number of Southern seats.