Confederation Constitution

The Article of Confederation is the America’s first written constitution, which was written by the continental congress. The Article of Confederation was ratified in 1781 until the adoption of the constitution in 1789. Although the Article of Confederation and constitution were two of the most prominent document to manifest during the American revolution, this Article of Confederation gave way for a better and stronger government. The two documents were both created by the same people. These two documents shaped the U.S government into what it is today. An anonymous person once wrote, “Perhaps the greatest service rendered by the Article of Confederation was the impetus its shortcomings gave to those who favored a strong central government.”

It was held in May of 1787. There were 12 of the 13 states which were represented by 55 delegates. The only state not present was Rhode Island. There were familiar faces like Benjamin Franklin from Pennsylvania, George Washington and James Madison from Virginia, and Alexander Hamilton from New York. George Washington was delegated to preside over the convention. Even though the meeting at Philadelphia was to revise the Article of Confederation, it was obvious that some delegates wanted to improve the government entirely. There were two plans presented: the Virginia plan and the New Jersey plan. The first plan which is the Virginia plan is also known as the large state plan which was mostly written by James Madison and introduced by Governor Edmund Randolph. The Virginia plan favored large states. The Virginia plan proposed a bicameral legislature which is a legislative branch with two chambers and the representation to congress was based on population. The Virginal plan also created a stronger national government. With the Virginal plan, congress was given the power to tax and to regulate interstate commerce. The second plan which is the New Jersey plan is also known as small state plan which was introduced by attorney William Patterson. The New Jersey plan favored small states and proposed a unicameral legislature which was based on equal representation, in which every state received one vote. In the New Jersey plan, congress was also given the power to tax and regulate interstate commerce. There were three compromises reached: The Great Compromise or the Connecticut Compromise, The Three-Fifths Compromise, and Commerce and Slave Trade Compromise. The Great Compromise established a bicameral legislature and was proposed by Roger Sherman of Connecticut. The Great Compromise satisfies both the Virginia plan and the New Jersey plan. It