The Economic Interests of the Founding Fathers in the Virginia Debate - Research Paper Example

Economics impacted who was likely to be involved in the process of decision-making regarding the development of a U.S. Constitution.  The background of the delegates and the nature of the debates that took place in Virginia during the ratification of the U.S. Constitution illustrate the central role of certain economic concerns in shaping the Constitution, including the continuation of slavery, the role of public debt and private investment, the growth of international trade, the freedom of the members of the marketplace, and social mobility.

At the Virginia debates, Federalist and Anti-Federalist members of the delegation were motivated to represent the interests of their respective economic segments of society, and in the process, they struck visible compromises on these key economic concerns that ultimately enabled the successful ratification of the Constitution. The ratification of the U.S. Constitution by the Virginia Convention on June 25, 1788, was a crucial historical development with a large impact on the role of the document in the American government and economy.

The final vote demonstrated the split nature of the decision: the majority of those supporting the ratification only outnumbered the dissenting vote by ten, with 88 voting to ratify and 78 voting to show dissent.  That ratification in Virginia was such a tedious result speaks to the importance of the discussions that took place during the Convention.While the debates of other states, such as Pennsylvania, may help to serve the same purpose, the state of Virginia’s decision on the Constitution held special significance due to the strategic position of the state, the size and influence of the delegation, and the wide extent of the interests represented.