HIST 386 Chapter Notes - Chapter 3: Sovereign People, Francis Jukes, Aquatint
A New Constitution
Calls for a Stronger Constitution
Delegates from Virginia and Maryland met at Mount Vernon to settle issues not
addressed in the Articles of Confederation and create a model for interstate
cooperation.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Examine the significance of the Mount Vernon Conference in shaping the American political
structure
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Key Points
• On March 25–28, 1785, delegates from Virginia and Maryland met at George
Washington ‘s home at what became known as the Mount Vernon Conference.
• The conference established commerce, fishing, and navigation rights between
Maryland and Virginia.
• The conference was significant as a model of interstate cooperation outside of
the framework of the relatively weak Articles of Confederation. Its success
encouraged further discussion of the limitations of the Articles, and
constitutional issues facing the states.
• The success of the Mount Vernon Conference eventually led to the 1786
Annapolis Convention and the 1787 Philadelphia Convention, which saw the
drafting of the US Constitution.
Key Terms
• Mount Vernon Conference: A meeting of delegates from Virginia and
Maryland at George Washington’s home in Virginia on March 25–28, 1785.
The Mount Vernon Conference
On March 25–28, 1785, delegates from Virginia and Maryland met at George
Washington’s estate in Mount Vernon, Virginia. This meeting, which came to be
known as the Mount Vernon Conference, preceded the Annapolis Convention of
1786 and was a precursor of the 1787 Philadelphia Convention that saw the drafting
of the US Constitution. Its primary aim was to settle issues not addressed under the
Articles of Confederation, including interstate cooperation.
The conference was attended by Samuel Chase, Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer, and
Thomas Stone of Maryland; and Alexander Henderson and George Mason of
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Virginia. James Madison and Edmund Randolph were also appointed as Virginia
delegates but Virginia Governor Patrick Henry failed to inform them in time, so they
were unable to attend.
George Washington’s estate in Mount Vernon: Mount Vernon, aquatint by Francis Jukes, 1800
Issues Discussed
The delegates were charged with dealing with issues of commerce, fishing, and
navigation in the waters of the Potomac River, Pocomoke River, and Chesapeake
Bay. These issues were not addressed directly by the Articles of Confederation,
which regulated the 13 largely independent states at the time, nor by the
authorization of the Potomac Company a year earlier, which was to regulate the
Potomac above the Great Falls.
The conference was largely a success and essentially created a model for interstate
cooperation. A report was prepared for the two state legislatures in March 1785,
containing 13 proposals known as the Mount Vernon Compact. Ratified by both
Maryland and Virginia, it declared the Potomac, which was under Maryland’s sole
jurisdiction, to be a common waterway for use by Virginia as well. It also provided for
reciprocal fishing rights, division of costs of constructing navigation aids, and
cooperation on defense and cases of piracy. Lastly, it called for commissioners to
deal with any future problems that might arise. The Mount Vernon delegates
encouraged Pennsylvania and Delaware to join on to the agreement.
Implications
The conference was significant as a model of interstate cooperation outside of the
framework of the relatively weak Articles of Confederation. Its success encouraged
James Madison to advocate for further discussion of the limitations of the Articles and
the constitutional issues facing the states, including trade and interstate issues and
the limited power of Congress. While serving as George Washington’s top aide,
Alexander Hamilton also realized that a strong central government was necessary for
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avoiding foreign intervention and alleviating the frustrations caused by an ineffectual
Congress.
On January 21, 1786, following the Mount Vernon Conference, Virginia invited all
states to attend a meeting on commercial issues. This would later become known as
the groundbreaking Annapolis Convention. In 1787, the Philadelphia Convention
further expanded cooperation to include all states in an effort to reform or replace the
Articles of Confederation with a new constitution.
A New Constitution
One of the key debates during the drafting of the Constitution regarded state
representation in the legislature.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Explain the purpose of the Connecticut Compromise and how compromise shaped the
creation of the Constitution
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Key Points
• Delegates met in 1787 at the Constitutional Convention to revise the Articles of
Confederation in a meeting that eventually led to drafting the United States
Constitution. The Constitution was the subject of many debates, the most
contentious of which concerned state representation in the legislature.
• The Virginia Plan proposed a legislative branch consisting of two chambers (
bicameral legislature ). Each state would be represented in proportion to its
population.
• The New Jersey Plan, however, proposed a unicameral legislature in which
each state, regardless of its size, would have one vote.
• The Connecticut Compromise established a bicameral legislature, with the
House of Representatives apportioned by population as desired in the Virginia
Plan, and the Senate granted equal votes per state as desired by the New
Jersey Plan.
• Under the Three-Fifths Compromise, each slave was counted as three-fifths of
a person, allowing the slave states to include a portion of their enslaved
population when allocating representation.
Key Terms
• Three-Fifths Compromise: An agreement between Southern and Northern
states that allowed a portion of the slave population to be counted for
representation purposes regarding both distribution of taxes and apportionment
of the members of the House of Representatives.
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Document Summary
Delegates from virginia and maryland met at mount vernon to settle issues not addressed in the articles of confederation and create a model for interstate cooperation. Examine the significance of the mount vernon conference in shaping the american political structure. Key points: on march 25 28, 1785, delegates from virginia and maryland met at george. Washington s home at what became known as the mount vernon conference: the conference established commerce, fishing, and navigation rights between. Maryland and virginia: the conference was significant as a model of interstate cooperation outside of the framework of the relatively weak articles of confederation. Its success encouraged further discussion of the limitations of the articles, and constitutional issues facing the states: the success of the mount vernon conference eventually led to the 1786. Annapolis convention and the 1787 philadelphia convention, which saw the drafting of the us constitution. Key terms: mount vernon conference: a meeting of delegates from virginia and.
