The Constitutional Convention: Shaping the Foundation of the United States

💡The Constitutional Convention was convened in 1787 to address the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation and create a stronger federal government.

🔑The Connecticut Compromise, also known as the Great Compromise, resolved the debate over state representation by creating a bicameral legislature.

🏛️The issue of slavery threatened the success of the Convention. The Three-Fifths Compromise allowed slave-holding states to count enslaved individuals as three-fifths of a person for representation and taxation purposes.

📜The Constitution was ratified by the states, and the Bill of Rights was added in 1791 to ensure personal liberties.

🗽The Constitutional Convention laid the foundation for the United States government, establishing the structure and principles that still guide the nation.

What was the purpose of the Constitutional Convention?

—The Constitutional Convention was held to address the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation and create a stronger federal government.

How was the issue of state representation resolved?

—The Connecticut Compromise, also known as the Great Compromise, created a bicameral legislature with representation based on both state population and equal state representation.

What was the Three-Fifths Compromise?

—The Three-Fifths Compromise allowed slave-holding states to count enslaved individuals as three-fifths of a person for representation and taxation purposes.

When was the Constitution ratified?

—The Constitution was ratified by the required three-fourths of the states on June 21, 1788.

What is the significance of the Bill of Rights?

—The Bill of Rights, added to the Constitution in 1791, protects individual liberties and has become a fundamental part of the United States legal system.

00:00The Constitutional Convention in 1787 addressed the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation.

00:23The Connecticut Compromise resolved the debate over state representation.

02:42The Three-Fifths Compromise was reached to address the issue of slavery.

03:55The Constitution was ratified by the states in 1788.

04:07The Bill of Rights was added in 1791 to protect personal liberties.