Term
What were the major problems or events that eventually led to the call for a 1787 Convention in Philadelphia to amend the Articles of Confederation? |
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Definition
| There were three general problems that contributed to the "melancholy situation" (as Alexander Hamilton called it in The Federalist No. 15) of the 1780s: first, problems within the states themselves; second, violations of the Articles of Confederation and of national treaties by the states; and third, the lack of powers on the part of Congress to get states to comply with the Articles and acts of national legislation. |
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Term
| What were the arguments of key delegates regarding bicameralism? |
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Definition
| Delegates such as James Wilson of Pennsylvania argued that splitting the legislature into two Houses would allow each to act as a check on the other. Others, such as Paterson, countered that such a check was unnecessary. |
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Term
| Why did some delegates support election by the people? Why did others support election y state legislatures? |
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Definition
| On one side, delegates such as Roger Sherman and Elbridge Gerry believed that the people were not fit to select their representatives. On the other side, delegates such as George Mason and James Madison argued that direct election to the lower House by the people was necessary to satisfy the "democratic principle." |
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Term
What were the arguments of key delegates in support of or opposed to proportional representation? Of equal representation? |
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Definition
Some delegates feared that proportional representation would allow the larger states to dominate Congress and pass laws adverse to the interests of the smaller states. Other delegates, such as George Mason, feared that equal representation would allow the smaller states to form a majority in Congress that would tax and spend the wealth and resources of the larger states to the advantage of the smaller states. |
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Term
| Why was it so difficult for delegates to finally compromise on the question of equal representation in the Senate? |
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Definition
| Some delegates feared that proportional representation would allow the larger states to dominate Congress and pass laws adverse to the interests of the smaller states. |
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Term
| What led the Convention to finally accept the Connecticut Compromise? |
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Definition
| The delegates reached an impasse over the rule of suffrage in Congress. On June 11, Roger Sherman of Connecticut had proposed a compromise measure: in the lower House, representation should be based on the population of each state; in the Senate, each state should have one vote. Two weeks later, on June 29, Oliver Ellsworth, also of Connecticut, revived Sherman's proposal and urged delegates to compromise. "We were partly national; partly federal," Ellsworth urged. Ellsworth's proposal was sent to a committee, which recommended proportional representation in the lower House based on poplulation, and equal representation in the Senate. The committee also proposed that all bills to tax or spend money must originate in the lower House, and could not be altered or amended by the Senate. This provision won the approval of delegates such as George Mason, who was now satisfied that even with equal representation in the Senate, a coalition of smaller states would be unable to unjustly tax the larger states. Despite continued resistance by James Madison and James Wilson, the compromise finally passed on July 16. |
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Term
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
| equal versus proportional representation in Congress |
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Term
| "National" plan of government |
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Definition
| operates upon and derives its authority from individual citizens |
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Term
| "Federal" plan of government |
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Definition
| operates upon and derives its authority from states |
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Term
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Definition
| establish two Houses of Congress: in the first or "lower" House, representatives would be elected directly by the people of each state; representatives in the second or "upper" House would be selected by members of the lower House out of a pool of candidates nominated by the state legislatures |
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Term
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Definition
| would enlarge some of the powers of Congress- such as the power to raise money |
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Term
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Definition
| proposed a bicameral Congress in which representatives in the Assembly (or lower House) would be elected directly by the people, and members of the Senate would be appointed by electors chosen by the people. The state governments would have no role in selecting representatives, and the national government would neither represent nor rely on the state governments in any way. |
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Term
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Definition
| in the lower House, representation should be based on the population of each state; in the Senate, each state should have one vote. Also, proportional representation in the lower House based on population, and equal representation in the Senate. |
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Term
| Know James Madison, George Mason, Elbridge Gerry, and James Wilson! |
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Definition
| use the link that I sent to you to study these 4 delegates. |
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