Final answer:
The delegates at the Constitutional Convention did not fully represent all American people, particularly excluding women, Native Americans, enslaved people, and non-property owners. Major discussions included the balance of individual liberty with law and order, the representation of small versus large states, and the contentious issue of slavery culminating in the three-fifths compromise. Notable absentees who did not contribute to these discussions included Patrick Henry, Thomas Jefferson, and John Adams.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Constitutional Convention and Representation
The delegates at the Constitutional Convention in 1787 did not include several key groups, and therefore, did not fully represent all people in America. The major groups not represented at the convention were women, Native Americans, enslaved people, and those who did not own property. Many delegates at the convention were concerned about government abuse and sought to balance concerns for law and order with demands for individual liberty. However, political rights were primarily given to free men, with significant fears of mob rule, like what was witnessed during Shays' Rebellion. When considering representation, delegates from small states wanted to ensure they were not overshadowed by larger states. Slavery was a contentious topic; slave states wanted slaves to be counted for the purpose of increasing representation, leading to the three-fifths compromise where three out of every five slaves were counted towards the population for representation and taxation purposes.
Moreover, some prominent individuals of the time, such as Patrick Henry, Samuel Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and John Adams, were not present at the convention for various reasons and thus did not contribute to the representation discussion. For instance, Jefferson and Adams were abroad, and Henry refused to participate. Despite this, the convention was composed of many leading figures such as Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, and James Madison. Addressing the Question of Democracy, the convention opted to have senators chosen by state legislatures as opposed to direct election, and established the Electoral College for the presidential election to temper direct democratic control.
Ultimately, the framers emerged with a new Constitution that formed the foundational government of the United States. Though the Constitution aimed to rectify the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation, it also reflected the social hierarchies and political compromises of its time, notably on issues of representation and slavery.