Exploring the U.S. Constitutional Convention

In 1787, delegates met in Philadelphia to address the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation. They decided to draft a new Constitution, leading to the Constitutional Convention. Key issues included legislative representation, resolved by the Great Compromise, and the counting of enslaved people, addressed by the Three-Fifths Compromise. The structure of the presidency was also debated, resulting in a single executive with a four-year term and an electoral college system.

What was the main goal of the delegates who gathered in Philadelphia in 1787?

• To draft the Bill of Rights

• To amend the Articles of Confederation

• To declare independence from Britain

• To elect a new president

Which plan proposed a bicameral legislature based on population?

• Rhode Island Plan

• Virginia Plan

• Connecticut Compromise

• New Jersey Plan

What was the key feature of the New Jersey Plan?

• A strong executive branch

• Representation based on population

• Equal representation for each state

• Bicameral legislature

What was the outcome of the Great Compromise?

• A bicameral legislature with equal representation in the Senate and proportional representation in the House

• A strong executive branch

• A judiciary with lifetime appointments

• A unicameral legislature

What issue did the Three-Fifths Compromise address?

• The structure of the executive branch

• The term length of the president

• The method of electing senators

• The representation of enslaved people in the population count

How were enslaved individuals counted for representation and taxation purposes?

• As full persons

• As half persons

• As three-fifths of a person

• They were not counted

What was a major concern regarding the structure of the executive branch?

• The length of the president's term

• The powers of the judiciary

• The method of electing senators

• The number of executive officers

What system was established to elect the president?

• State legislatures

• Electoral College

• Direct popular vote

• Congressional appointment

What was the final decision on the term length for the president?

• Two years

• Six years

• Eight years

• Four years

Who favored having the president serve for life?

• George Washington

• Thomas Jefferson

• James Madison

• Alexander Hamilton