After Shays’ Rebellion the states began to realize that a stronger form of government was needed. The states were not only unable to control small rebellions within the states, but they would have little hope of standing together against any sort of foreign attack if one should arise. Not only that, but there was still the threat of Indian attacks along their western border, and that would require a unified treatment.
Two other important problems plaguing the new country were the economic troubles and trade problems that had occurred since the war. When the annual Annapolis Convention started in 1786 the delegates that showed up decided that the need to discuss a new government was more important than a larger discussion of commercial issues. Since only five states delegates had shown up for the convention, Alexander Hamilton drew up a request for all states to send their delegates to Philadelphia
In 1787 fifty-five delegates showed up for the Constitutional Convention and their first action was to appoint George Washington president of the convention. The delegates decided that the troubles plaguing the states were too great and that a new government needed to be drafted from scratch. The delegates were broken down into factions depending on what they believed or felt a new government would require. There was almost complete unanimity that a new federal government was needed, but that pretty much only started the debate. The first faction to come into play were the Nationalists, and they were composed of such people as Alexander Hamilton and Benjamin Franklin (GW was also a silent player in this grouping). The Nationalists wanted public spirit, and a strong central government that harnessed their self interests rather than appealing to the common good. They admired the British political system and felt that the ‘better sort’ of individuals should rule.
The next group to come into play was the Republican Ideologues who included such people as George Mason and Luther Martin. They believed in the principles of the radical Whigs: that any powerful government is dangerous and needs to be in the hands of the state. There needed to be a small central government, and local governments needed to remain with the people’s say. Their goal was to pursue the common good. The Pragmatists on the other hand, joined by James Madison and Charles Pinckney, wanted a workable government that bridged the gap between the two extremes. As James Madison so eloquently put it, “The great desideratum in Government is such a modification of the Sovereignty as will render it sufficiently neutral between the differing interests and factions…” (Brown, 394) In other words, they wanted a compromise.
There was a fourth faction, but they were the group that was not present at the convention at all. Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Samuel Adams, Patrick Henry, and John Hancock were all the men most committed to a radical government, but they also did not think that there even needed to be a change. The men at the convention started debating back and forth about the changes that they needed to make, with several plans being put forth. The first plan introduced was done so by James Madison and was called the Virginia Plan. This plan called for a strong central government that would raise money, overrule conflicting state laws, and would have representation in Congress that was based on the population of each state. This plan was unpopular with the Republican Ideologues and some of the smaller states because they saw the plan as a loss of their power due to the proportional representation. The New Jersey Plan was then introduced by the smaller states, and they agreed to a stronger federal government, but wanted equal representation of each state in the legislature so that the small states would not get their opinions overwhelmed.
Alexander Hamilton hated both plans; he felt that they just complicated matters even more than they already were. The delegates in the convention argued for months over the particulars and it threatened to break up the convention all together. So, Roger Sherman of
The new government would have a president, who would be elected to four year terms, but could be reelected indefinitely. The public voters would vote for electors, who would make up the Electoral College which was also proportional by state. These electors will exercise their independent judgment if necessary, instead of the public opinion, to elect a worthy candidate to the presidency. This would keep average people at a distance, and would allow wealthier, more educated men to make a decision with infinitely more wisdom. The last part of the new government was to establish a Federal Judiciary. There were still conflicts with this new governmental institution, but it was eventually ratified and agreed upon by all the states in 1789. It took some doing, some whisky, and some cajoling, but eventually the new Constitution was an accepted part of America
Source Reference:
Brown, Richard D., ed. Major Problems in the Era of the American Revolution, 1760-1791. 2nd ed. Boston
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