Lecture Notes: The Constitutional Convention and the U.S. Constitution

Introduction

The U.S. Constitution begins with "We the People of the United States..."
The story of the Constitutional Convention, known as the "Miracle at Philadelphia," began on May 25, 1787.
Delegates met in Pennsylvania State House (now Independence Hall) and deliberated in secret until September 17, 1787.
This lecture covers three significant compromises of the convention:
1. Balance of power between big and small states
2. Election of the President
3. Future of slavery

Virginia Plan (Favored by Big States):
- Proposed by James Madison
- Two houses in the legislative branch
- Representation based on population
New Jersey Plan (Favored by Small States):
- Led by William Paterson of New Jersey
- One house legislature with equal state representation
Connecticut Compromise:
- Proposed by Roger Sherman and Oliver Ellsworth
- Two houses: House of Representatives (population-based) and Senate (equal representation)
- Passed by a single vote

Debates about the Presidency:
- Strong executive vs. weak executive
Options Considered:
- Congress electing the President ($\text{Concern}$: intrigue and factionalism)
- Popular vote proposed by James Wilson (Challenges due to large country size)
Electoral College:
- Compromise between popular vote, congressional selection, and protection against demagogues
- Ensures national elite influence

Three-Fifths Clause:
- Counted enslaved people as three-fifths of a person for representation
- Brokered by James Wilson; aimed to mediate between full count and exclusion
- Criticized for hypocrisy by anti-slavery delegates
International Slave Trade:
- Congress prevented from banning it until 1808
- Split between states wanting an immediate ban (e.g., Virginia) and those relying on the trade (e.g., Georgia and South Carolina)
- Invention of the cotton gin later increased reliance on slavery
Outcome:
- No explicit protection for slavery written into the Constitution
- Would take Civil War and 13th Amendment to end slavery

Constitutional Convention ended on September 17, 1787, marking Constitution Day.
Benjamin Franklin's Reflection:
- Acknowledged imperfections but encouraged acceptance and respect for others' judgments
Ratification:
- Delegates' signatures did not confer supreme law; required ratification by "We the People"
Notable Non-signers:
- George Mason, Edmund Randolph, and Elbridge Gerry did not sign due to lack of a Bill of Rights
Legacy:
- Franklin's famous response "A republic, if you can keep it" highlights the ongoing responsibility of citizens to maintain the republic

The lecture encourages learning about the Constitution with open-mindedness and humility.