Malcolm Rivera
The United States Constitution was formed through a series of compromises between delegates to the Constitutional Convention of 1787. The delegates, representing 12 of the 13 original states, met in Philadelphia to revise the Articles of Confederation, which had been the governing document since the American Revolution. However, they soon realised that a more comprehensive overhaul was needed, and they set out to create a new constitution. The delegates held differing views and interests, and compromise was necessary to bridge the gaps and create a government charter acceptable to each of the 13 states.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| State representation | The Great Compromise, or Connecticut Compromise, combined the Virginia Plan (representation based on state population) and the Jersey Plan (equal representation for each state) |
| Congressional representation | The Three-Fifths Compromise: every five slaves were counted as three individuals for representation purposes |
| Congressional representation | The Fugitive Clause required governments of free states to help recapture runaway slaves |
| Election of the president | The Electoral College was created, comprised of electors roughly proportional to population |
| Tariffs | Tariffs were only allowed on imports from foreign countries, not exports from the US |
| Slavery | Congress could ban the international slave trade, but only 20 years after the ratification of the Constitution |
Explore related products
$11.29 $19.99
$49.99 $54.99
$12.1 $39.95
What You'll Learn
The Great Compromise
The proposal was crafted by Roger Sherman and Oliver Ellsworth of Connecticut, combining elements of the Virginia (large state) plan and the New Jersey (small state) plan. The compromise was adopted by a single vote on July 16, 1787, and it laid the foundation for today's system of congressional representation. It is considered a pivotal moment in the creation of the U.S. Constitution, as without it, there may not have been a Constitution at all.
Power, Tyranny, and the Constitution's Roots
You may want to see also
The Three-Fifths Compromise
The Compromise stated that three-fifths of each state's slave population would be counted towards that state's total population for the purpose of apportioning the House of Representatives. This effectively gave the Southern states more power in the House relative to the Northern states. This compromise also determined how much money the states would pay in taxes. The Three-Fifths Compromise is part of Article 1, Section 2, Clause 3 of the United States Constitution.
Rice and Beans: A Complete Protein Source?
You may want to see also
Electoral College Compromise
The U.S. Constitution is sometimes referred to as a "bundle of compromises" due to the numerous concessions made by delegates to create a government charter that was acceptable to all 13 states. One of the most significant compromises was the creation of the Electoral College, which was established to elect the president through a group of intermediaries instead of a direct popular vote or a vote in Congress.
During the Constitutional Convention, there were two opposing views on how the president should be elected. One group argued for a popular vote, while the other suggested that Congress should elect the president. The delegates struggled to agree on a solution, and the issue of how to elect the president was one of the hardest to resolve.
The Electoral College was proposed as a compromise, with the idea that each state would appoint independent "electors" who would cast the ballots for the presidency. The number of electors in each state was roughly proportional to the population, and these electors were bound to a particular candidate. This system allowed for the creation of a temporary group of electors every four years, equal to the total number of representatives in Congress.
The Electoral College has been a source of controversy, with more than 700 proposals introduced in Congress to reform or eliminate it. Some argue that it is an archaic and ambiguous system that does not reflect the popular vote. However, others defend its continuation, and it remains a part of the original design of the U.S. Constitution.
The Electoral College has had a significant impact on the outcome of presidential elections. In five instances, candidates have won the popular vote but lost in the Electoral College. This has sparked debates about the viability of the system and the role of third parties within it. Nonetheless, the Electoral College stands as a testament to the compromises made during the formation of the Constitution, reflecting the complex dynamics between states and their varying interests.
Framers' Intent: Political Parties in Constitution Vision
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Tariff Compromise
Tariffs are a form of tax imposed by the federal government on imported goods and services. The Constitution grants Congress the power to levy tariffs, but in recent years, Congress has passed laws that have given the President control over when and how tariffs are placed on goods entering the United States.
The Tariff Compromise, also known as the Compromise Tariff or the Tariff Act of 1833, was passed on March 2, 1833, by Congress. It was designed to reduce tariff rates gradually from those set by the Act of 1832, with all tariff rates above 20% reduced by one-tenth every two years, with the final reductions back to 20% coming in 1842. This was a compromise between the Northern and Southern states, as the North wanted to protect its finished goods industry from foreign competition, while the South wanted to continue importing many finished goods from Britain. The Tariff Compromise also dictated that the federal government would regulate interstate commerce and that all commerce legislation be passed by a two-thirds majority in the Senate, giving more power to the less populous Southern states.
The Compromise Tariff helped to defer the Nullification Crisis, which was rooted in the tariff acts of 1828 and 1832, as well as the issue of slavery. In response to South Carolina's Ordinance of Nullification, Congress passed the Force Bill, which gave President Jackson broad powers to enforce federal tariffs against South Carolina, including the use of the army. On the same date, Congress passed the Tariff Act of 1833, which South Carolina accepted, and on March 15, 1833, the South Carolina convention reconvened and repealed the Ordinance of Nullification.
The Tariff Compromise was not the only compromise that helped shape the Constitution. The Constitution is sometimes called a "bundle of compromises" as delegates had to agree on numerous key points for the Constitution to be acceptable to all 13 states. For example, the Great Compromise, or the Connecticut Compromise, combined the Virginia Plan, which proposed representation based on state population, and the Jersey Plan, which proposed equal representation for every state. Another compromise was the creation of the Electoral College, which allowed citizens to vote for electors who then voted for the President, instead of directly electing the President.
Who Has a Hard Copy of Oregon's Constitution?
You may want to see also
Anti-Federalists vs Federalists
The US Constitution is sometimes referred to as a "bundle of compromises" due to the numerous concessions made by delegates to create a government charter acceptable to all 13 states. These compromises also played a role in the divide between Federalists and Anti-Federalists.
The Federalists and Anti-Federalists held vastly differing and complex views. Federalists were nationalists who believed in a strong central government. They were instrumental in shaping the new US Constitution in 1787, which, according to Anti-Federalists, strengthened the national government at the expense of the states and the people. Federalists were in favour of the Constitution, which the Anti-Federalists opposed.
The Anti-Federalists never organised efficiently across all 13 states, and so they had to fight the ratification at every state convention. However, they did succeed in forcing the first Congress under the new Constitution to establish a Bill of Rights to ensure the liberties that they felt the Constitution violated.
The issue of slavery further highlighted the divide between the two groups. The Anti-Federalists wanted to block the expansion of slavery and did not want to write explicit protections for slavery into the Constitution. On the other hand, the Federalists were willing to compromise with Southern slaveholders to form a new Union and create a stronger national government.
The delegates at the Constitutional Convention, which included both Federalists and Anti-Federalists, ultimately agreed that a strengthened union of the states was more important than the Revolutionary ideal of equality.
Northwest Ordinance: Forging the US Constitution's Federal Framework
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
The Three-Fifths Compromise was an agreement that every five enslaved people would count as three individuals in terms of representation. This was a compromise between the Northern and Southern states, with the former arguing that slaves should not be counted at all, and the latter fighting for slaves to be counted in terms of representation.
The Great Compromise, also known as the Connecticut Compromise, addressed the issue of state representation. It established a bicameral legislature with proportional representation in the House of Representatives and equal representation in the Senate.
The Electoral College was created as a compromise on how the president should be elected. Each state has electors roughly proportional to its population, and citizens vote for electors who are bound to a particular candidate.
A compromise was reached that tariffs would only be allowed on imports from foreign countries and not on exports from the U.S. This also dictated that interstate commerce would be regulated by the federal government, and that commerce legislation would require a two-thirds majority in the Senate.
While some delegates considered slavery evil and wanted to ban the slave trade, others from Southern states where slavery was expanding rapidly angrily opposed this. As a compromise, slavery was not explicitly protected or banned in the Constitution, and the legality of slavery was left to the states. The delegates also agreed that Congress could ban the international slave trade, but only 20 years after the ratification of the Constitution.
![Founding Fathers [DVD]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71f9-HsS5nL._AC_UY218_.jpg)
