What was the Constitutional Convention?

In the United States, the Constitutional Convention was held from May 25 to September 17 1787 to strengthen the federal government and create a new Constitution. The Constitution drafted at the convention remains in effect today.

What was the Virginia Plan?

The Virginia Plan, penned by James Madison and Edmund Randolph, provided the blueprint for the US Constitution, calling for three branches of the federal government - executive, legislative, and judicial - as well as a bicameral Congress.

What issues were debated in the Constitutional Convention?

The main issues debated at the Constitutional Convention were matters of representation - whether states would be represented equally or by population - and slavery, particularly how slaves would be counted in regard to state populations as well as the future of the slave trade.

Constitutional Convention Timeline

Definition

The Constitutional Convention was held at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from 25 May to 17 September 1787. Spurred on by economic troubles left over from the American Revolution and compounded by the weak Articles of Confederation, delegates from twelve states met to draft a new framework of governance, the United States Constitution, which created a stronger federal government.

More about: Constitutional Convention

Timeline

11 Sep 1786 - 14 Sep 1786
The Annapolis Convention recommends that the existing Articles of Confederation be revised for the good of the country.
25 May 1787
The US Constitutional Convention opens in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, with George Washington presiding.
29 May 1787
Edmund Randolph introduces the Virginia Plan to the Convention, which calls for a strong federal government, a bicameral Congress, and proportional state representation.
15 Jun 1787
William Paterson presents the New Jersey Plan which stresses equal state representation in the new national government; his plan is ultimately not adopted.
10 Jul 1787
Convention delegates agree to the Three-Fifths Compromise, in which three-fifths of the enslaved population is counted for purposes of state representation.
16 Jul 1787
Convention delegates agree to the Connecticut Compromise; state representation will be equal in the Senate, but proportional in the House of Representatives.
6 Aug 1787
The first draft of the US Constitution is completed, further debate ensues.
8 Sep 1787
A committee is established to create the final draft of the US Constitution, which is primarily written by Gouverneur Morris.
17 Sep 1787
39 delegates sign the United States Constitution; the Constitution is sent to the states for ratification and the Constitutional Convention comes to an end.