Short Paper On Constitutional Convention Assignment

Short Paper Constitutional Convention Assignment Instructionsoverview

This assignment will allow you to research and better understand the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in 1787. The assignment’s purpose is to enhance the historian’s understanding of the early American founding era by investigating and interpreting primary and secondary source evidence related to the Constitutional Convention.

You will write a 2-page short research paper on a key person, event, idea, or action of the Constitutional Convention of 1787. The paper must use at least two scholarly sources, but no more than three sources total. One must be a primary source and one a secondary source.

Citation and paper format must apply current Turabian formatting. The paper must include proper citations, including the use of footnotes Ibid. and shortened forms. Overall, your paper should:

  • Identify the key person, event, idea, or action from the Convention.
  • Provide a brief historical narrative of the identified topic.
  • Explain the significance of your selected topic.
  • Rationalize how this key person, event, idea, or action impacted the founding.

Your paper’s body must include an introduction with a well-crafted thesis statement and a concluding summary. The title page and bibliography do not count toward the 2-2 ¼ page length. The paper must be written in the third person. Use the template from the LU Online Writing Center – Writing Style Guide website and follow the sample paper instructions and guidelines.

Paper For Above instruction

The Constitutional Convention of 1787 stands as a pivotal moment in American history, shaping the foundational documents and institutions of the United States. Among the many influential figures, James Madison emerges as a central figure whose ideas and leadership significantly impacted the Convention's outcome. This paper examines Madison’s role, providing a brief narrative of his contributions, explaining their significance, and analyzing how his efforts influenced the founding of the nation.

James Madison, often called the "Father of the Constitution," played a key role in the debates and drafting process during the Convention. As a delegate from Virginia, Madison arrived with a well-prepared plan, advocating for a strong central government and the separation of powers. His detailed notes of the proceedings provide invaluable insights into the Convention’s deliberations. Madison’s Virginia Plan laid the groundwork for the structure of the new government, proposing a bicameral legislature, an executive, and a judiciary. His advocacy for representation based on population influenced the subsequent compromises, particularly the Connecticut Compromise, which balanced federal and state interests.

The significance of Madison's contributions cannot be overstated. His ideas about checks and balances became fundamental principles of the U.S. Constitution, ensuring no single branch could dominate or usurp power. His insistence on a federal system with a division of powers helped create a durable government capable of adapting to future challenges. Moreover, Madison’s influence extended beyond the Convention; his advocacy for the Bill of Rights ensured the protection of individual liberties, thus laying the foundation for modern American constitutional law.

The impact of Madison’s leadership and ideas on the founding of the United States was profound. His efforts helped forge a new republican system that balanced the interests of different states and factions, creating a flexible yet resilient framework for governance. Madison's work exemplified the importance of compromise, intellectual rigor, and constitutional design—principles that have underpinned American politics for over two centuries. His role underscores the importance of visionary leadership in shaping a nation’s fundamental laws and promoting a stable, representative government.

References

  • Beeman, Richard R. Plain, Honest Men: The Making of the American Constitution. Hill and Wang, 2009.
  • Madison, James. Notes of Debates in the Federal Convention of 1787. Edited by J. C. A. Stagg, Yale University Press, 2005.
  • Rakove, Jack N. Original Meanings: Politics and Ideas in the Making of the Constitution. Vintage Books, 1996.
  • Bailyn, Bernard. The Ideological Origins of the American Revolution. Harvard University Press, 1967.
  • Wood, Gordon S. The Creation of the American Republic, 1776-1787. University of North Carolina Press, 1969.
  • Elkins, Stanley M., and Douglas L. McGrew. The Great Divide: The Conflict Between Federal and State Governments, 1828-1861. University of Missouri Press, 2017.
  • Maier, Pauline. American Scripture: Making the Declaration of Independence. Alfred A. Knopf, 1997.
  • Holton, Woody. Unruly Americans and the Origins of the Constitution. Hill and Wang, 2007.
  • Rakove, Jack N. Revolutionaries: A New History of the Invention of America. Wiley-Blackwell, 2010.
  • Syrett, Harold C., and Donald J. Hora. The Making of the Federal Constitution. Harvard University Press, 1972.

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