Constitutional convention why secret

When notes of the Virginia plan were found on the floor outside the meeting room, Mr. Washington complained to the delegates:. Gentlemen, I am sorry to find that some one Member of this Body, has been so neglectful of the secrets of the Convention as to drop in the State House a copy of their proceedings, which by accident was picked up and delivered to me this morning. I must entreat Gentlemen to be more careful, least our transactions get into the News Papers, and disturb the public repose by premature speculations.

I know not whose Paper it is, but there it is throwing it down on the table , let him who owns it take it. Secrecy may have been required due to the issues being debated. Men like James Madison and Alexander Hamilton wanted to create a new government, rather than fix the present one.

They were also seeking to bolster the authority of the federal government to be able to tax, regulate commerce, and resolve conflicts between the states.

The delegates created a model of government that relied upon a series of checks and balances by dividing federal authority between the Legislative, the Judicial, and the Executive branches of government. Weary of monarchies, the framers of the Constitution had originally imagined a weak presidency and a strong legislature divided into a House of Representatives and the Senate.

Federalism—the relationship between the federal government and states—was also addressed. Each of issues was thoroughly and hotly debated. Without the Injunction of Secrecy, Madison feared many delegates would not have spoken their minds so freely. They talked about many controversial topics, ranging from slavery to taxation. Delegates from the North and South had ranging opinions and since they were secluded, little was held back. If the public had been involved, there may have been bribing or influence from powerful people of that day and age compare that to lobbying today.

Public access, along with more outside influence, would have brought more opinions and pressures; the founding fathers had enough to discuss and accomplish without these added issues. Share this: Twitter Facebook. Next post John F. Kennedy and PT Boat Thank you. Philip N. Leave a Reply Cancel reply Your email address will not be published. Not to tell anyone about what went on at the meetings so the general public would not be alarmed. Though these two giants served at the convention , other prominent founding fathers weren't present.

One of the first actions of the convention was to vote to keep its deliberations secret. In order to do so, the windows of the State House now known as Independence Hall were closed to thwart eavesdroppers.

What is the secrecy rule? According to Madison's Notes, the exact language of the secrecy rule was: "That nothing spoken in the house be printed, or otherwise published or communicated without leave.

And for the most part they adhered to the rule of secrecy. Why was secrecy so important? Secret societies use secrecy as a way to attract members by creating a sense of importance.

What was the most important rule at the convention? What factors led to the Constitutional Convention? Stimulated by severe economic troubles, which produced radical political movements such as Shays's Rebellion, and urged on by a demand for a stronger central government, the convention met in the Pennsylvania State House in Philadelphia May 25—September 17, , ostensibly to amend the Articles of Confederation. What was the main issue with regard to the Constitution?

A central issue at the Convention was whether the federal government or the states would have more power. Many delegates believed that the federal government should be able to overrule state laws, but others feared that a strong federal government would oppress their citizens. What was happening in ? The Constitution of the United States established America's national government and fundamental laws, and guaranteed certain basic rights for its citizens.