The Constitutional Convention

Several themes emerged as the Founding Fathers tried to hash out specific problems associated with writing a Constitution.  Some of the themes were:

• How to determine representation in Congress from each state
• Balancing power between the states and the federal government
• Addressing slavery and the slave trade
• Electing and giving power to the President
• Setting up a judicial branch and establishing judicial review
• Developing a process to pass laws

 The manner in which the Founding Fathers addressed the issues above set the stage for the development of American politics throughout our history.