The Constitutional Convention

Welcome: The Constitutional Convention
Description: In 1781, the Revolutionary War was finally over and the new nation was ready to move on. However, under the Articles of Confederation, Congress was too weak and inefficient to make any major decisions that all 13 states would agree to. Issues such as slavery, representation in Congress, individual rights, and commerce regulation were already threatening to tear the new nation apart. Leading statesmen called for a special convention to revise the Articles. In May of 1787, 55 delegates from the 13 states secretly met in Philadelphia. It soon became apparent that rather than amend the Articles, the members of the Constitutional Convention needed to write an entirely new document.
Grade Level: 9-12
Curriculum: Social Studies
Keywords: Federalism, Anti-Federalists, Federalists, Virginia Plan, New Jersey Plan, Constitutional Convention
Author(s): Laureen Kennedy