William_T._Bianco,_David_T._Canon]_American_Polit

The politics of compromise at the Constitutional Convention 39

The Politics of Compromise at the Constitutional Convention

The central players at the Constitutional Convention were James Madison,

Gouverneur Morris, Edmund Randolph, James Wilson, Benjamin Franklin, and

George Washington, who was the unanimous choice to preside over the convention

(despite his initial decision not to attend). Several of the important leaders of the

Revolution were not present. Patrick “Give me Liberty, or give me Death!” Henry was

selected to attend but declined to do so, as he opposed any changes in the Articles,

saying he “smelled a rat.” Indeed, those who were opposed to a stronger national

government largely avoided the convention. Other prominent leaders who did not

attend included Thomas Jefferson and John Adams, who were working overseas as U.S.

diplomats, and Thomas Paine, who was back in England. Moreover, John Hancock and

Samuel Adams were not selected to attend. The delegates met in secret to encourage

open, uncensored debate.

Although there was broad consensus among the delegates that the Articles of

Confederation needed to be changed, there were many tensions over the issues

ANALYZE THE MAJOR

ISSUES DEBATED BY

THE FRAMERS OF THE

CONSTITUTION

NUTS

& B O LT S

2 .1

Comparing the Articles of Confederation

and the Constitution

Issue Articles of Confederation Constitution

Legislature Unicameral Congress Bicameral Congress divided into the House of

Representatives and the Senate

Members of Congress Between two and seven per state

(the number was determined by each state)

Two senators per state; representatives apportioned

according to population of each state

Voting in Congress One vote per state One vote per representative or senator

Selection of members Appointed by state legislatures Representatives elected by popular vote; senators

appointed by state legislatures

Chief executive None (there was an Executive Council within

Congress, but it had limited executive power)

President

National judiciary No general federal courts Supreme Court; Congress authorized to establish

national judiciary

Amendments to

the document

When approved by all states When approved by two-thirds of each house of Congress

and three-fourths of the states

Power to coin money Federal government and the states Federal government only

Ta x e s Apportioned by Congress, collected by the states Apportioned and collected by Congress

Ratification Unanimous consent required Consent of nine states required

Full_03_APT_64431_ch02_030-069.indd 39 16/11/18 1:30 PM