Compromises That Shaped The Constitution

The creation of the U.S. Constitution was a complex and contentious process, with delegates from 12 of the 13 original states meeting in Philadelphia in 1787 to revise the Articles of Confederation, the country's first constitution. However, the delegates soon realised that a more comprehensive overhaul was needed, and they embarked on the creation of a new constitution. This process involved several significant compromises, including the Great Compromise, which established a bicameral legislature with equal representation in the Senate and proportional representation in the House of Representatives, balancing the interests of larger and smaller states. Another key compromise was the Three-Fifths Compromise, which addressed the issue of how slaves would be counted for congressional representation, with enslaved individuals being counted as three-fifths of a person, a reflection of the firmly established slavery system in the United States at the time. Additionally, the delegates compromised on the method of selecting the president, opting for the Electoral College as a solution. These compromises were essential in bridging the gaps between different interests and perspectives, ultimately leading to the ratification of the Constitution and the formation of the federal government.

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The Great Compromise: a bicameral legislature with equal representation in the Senate and proportional representation in the House

The Great Compromise, also known as the Connecticut Compromise, was a key agreement that allowed the creation of the United States Constitution. It addressed the contentious issue of congressional representation, which threatened to derail the Constitutional Convention of 1787.

The delegates to the Convention in Philadelphia in 1787 were divided over how congressional representation should be determined. The larger states, like Virginia, argued for representation based on each state's population, while smaller states, like New Jersey, believed that each state should have equal representation.

The Great Compromise combined both plans, establishing a bicameral legislature with equal representation in the Senate and proportional representation in the House of Representatives. This meant that each state had two senators but varying numbers of representatives based on population. This compromise ensured that all states had a voice in the federal government and balanced the interests of larger and smaller states.

The issue of how to count enslaved people further complicated the matter of representation. The Three-Fifths Compromise was adopted, whereby enslaved people were counted as three-fifths of a person for representation purposes. This resulted in additional representation for Southern states with a significant enslaved population, while Northern states restrained them from acquiring excessive influence.

The Great Compromise was a significant agreement that resolved a crucial point of contention during the Constitutional Convention. It laid the groundwork for the federal government's operation and contributed to establishing the power dynamics between the states and the federal government.

Three-Fifths Compromise: every five enslaved people counted as three individuals for representation

The Three-Fifths Compromise was an agreement reached during the 1787 Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia. The delegates representing 12 of the 13 original states met to revise the Articles of Confederation, which was the original governing document of the United States. However, they soon realised that a more comprehensive overhaul was needed, and they set out to create a new constitution.

The Three-Fifths Compromise was an agreement that every five enslaved people would be counted as three individuals for representation. This compromise addressed the issue of how slaves would be counted in order to determine congressional representation. The Southern states sought to count them to increase their representation in Congress, while the Northern states thought they should not be counted because they did not have the right to vote. The compromise met the needs of both parties. Based on their enslaved population, the Southern states received additional representation in the House of Representatives, but the Northern states restrained the Southern states from acquiring excessive influence by only considering enslaved individuals as three-fifths of a person.

The Three-Fifths Compromise was a morally dubious compromise that mirrored the firmly established slavery system in the United States at the time. It also gave slaveholders similarly enlarged powers in Southern legislatures. Free black people and indentured servants were not subject to the compromise and were each counted as one full person for representation. The compromise was part of Article 1, Section 2, Clause 3 of the United States Constitution, which reads:

> Representatives and direct Taxes shall be apportioned among the several States which may be included within this Union, according to their respective Numbers, which shall be determined by adding to the whole Number of free Persons, including those bound to Service for a Term of Years, and excluding Indians not taxed, three-fifths of all other Persons.

The Three-Fifths Compromise was superseded in 1868 by Section 2 of the Fourteenth Amendment, which explicitly repealed the compromise. Slavery and involuntary servitude were later outlawed in the United States in 1865 by the 13th Amendment to the Constitution.

Commerce Compromise: tariffs allowed on imports but not exports, balancing North and South interests

The Commerce Compromise was one of the key compromises made during the creation of the U.S. Constitution, which allowed tariffs on imports but not on exports, balancing the interests of the North and the South.

The Commerce Compromise was a significant agreement that addressed the issue of tariffs on imports and exports, with the aim of balancing the conflicting economic interests of the Northern and Southern states. The compromise mandated that tariffs could only be imposed on imports from foreign countries and not on exports from the United States. This meant that the federal government would regulate interstate commerce, and any commerce legislation would require a two-thirds majority in the Senate to pass.

This compromise was a win for the Southern states, as it countered the power of the more populous Northern states. The Southern economy heavily relied on the enslavement of African people, and they did not want the government to interfere or restrict their practices. The Commerce Compromise allowed the Southern states to continue their slave-based economy without facing tariffs on their exports.

On the other hand, the Northern states, with a less slavery-dependent economy, sought to block the expansion of slavery and prevent it from being enshrined in the Constitution. By allowing tariffs on imports but not exports, the Commerce Compromise struck a balance between the interests of the two regions.

Overall, the Commerce Compromise was a crucial agreement that helped bridge the gap between the differing perspectives of the Northern and Southern states during the creation of the U.S. Constitution. It ensured that all states had a voice in the federal government and contributed to the establishment of the federal government as we know it today.

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Electoral College: electors roughly proportional to population, citizens vote for electors who vote for the president

The Electoral College was established by the Founding Fathers as a compromise between the election of the President by a vote in Congress and election by a popular vote of qualified citizens. The term "electoral college" does not appear in the Constitution, but the 12th Amendment and Article II refer to "electors". The number of electors each state is allocated is proportional to its population, and these electors then vote for the President.

The Great Compromise, also known as the Sherman Compromise or Connecticut Compromise, was proposed by Roger Sherman and Oliver Ellsworth of Connecticut. It was an agreement that there would be two national legislatures in a bicameral Congress. Members of the House of Representatives would be allocated according to each state's population and would be elected by the people. In the second body, the Senate, each state would have two representatives, regardless of its size, and these would be chosen by state legislatures. This compromise aimed to balance the interests of large and small states and prevent the convention from dissolving into chaos.

The Three-Fifths Clause, which was also secured by Roger Sherman, increased pro-slavery strength in Congress, the presidency, and the Supreme Court. This was because enslaved people were counted as three-fifths of a person for congressional representation and, in turn, for determining voting power in the Electoral College.

Over time, there have been numerous proposals to reform or eliminate the Electoral College, with some critics deeming it archaic and ambiguous. However, it would require a Constitutional amendment to change this system, and no such amendment has been passed by Congress.

Slave trade: Congress could ban the international trade, but only 20 years after the Constitution's ratification

The creation of the US Constitution was a complex process that involved several compromises by the founding leaders. One of the most contentious issues was slavery, which had been a part of colonial law since the 1660s and had become deeply entrenched in the Southern economy and society. The delegates at the Constitutional Convention of 1787 fiercely debated the issue, with Northern states advocating for the end of the slave trade and slavery itself, while Southern states sought to protect it.

The delegates ultimately reached a compromise: the Congress could ban the international slave trade, but only after a period of 20 years following the ratification of the Constitution, which would be on January 1, 1808. This compromise was reflected in Article 1, Section 9 of the Constitution, also known as the Slave Trade Clause. During the 20-year period, the importation and sale of enslaved people continued, with more than 200,000 people being brought into the United States as slaves.

The Three-Fifths Compromise was another attempt to address the issue of slavery. This compromise allowed every five enslaved people to be counted as three individuals for representation purposes in Congress. This gave Southern states additional representation in the House of Representatives while preventing them from gaining excessive influence, as the Northern states had pushed for. However, it was a morally dubious agreement that perpetuated the institution of slavery.

While the Constitution did not immediately end the slave trade, it laid the groundwork for future abolition. In the years leading up to 1808, popular support for the abolition of the slave trade and slavery grew, and Congress passed statutes regulating the trade. Finally, on January 1, 1808, Congress enacted the Act Prohibiting Importation of Slaves, which criminalised the importation of slaves into the United States. This marked a significant step towards ending the international slave trade, although slavery itself and the domestic trade in slaves persisted within the country.

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