Compromises Shaped The Constitution

The creation of the U.S. Constitution was a long and complex process that required a series of compromises to be reached between the founding fathers. One of the key issues was state representation, with the Virginia Plan advocating for representation based on state population, and the New Jersey Plan proposing equal representation for each state. This was resolved through the Great Compromise, or the Connecticut Compromise, which established a bicameral legislature with two chambers: the Senate, with equal representation for each state, and the House of Representatives, with representation based on population. Another contentious issue was slavery, with Northern states seeking to block the expansion of slavery and Southern states fighting to protect it. A compromise was reached, delaying the ban on the slave trade until 1808, and the Three-Fifths Clause was adopted, counting enslaved persons as three-fifths of a free person for the purpose of representation in the House of Representatives. Additionally, a compromise was made regarding tariffs, with the federal government regulating interstate commerce and imposing tariffs only on imports, protecting the South's trade interests. These compromises, among others, helped shape the U.S. Constitution and laid the foundation for the country's governance.

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The Great Compromise: a bicameral legislature with two chambers, the Senate and House of Representatives

The Great Compromise, also known as the Connecticut Compromise, was a pivotal agreement that helped shape the structure of the United States Congress. It addressed the contentious issue of state representation in Congress, which was a major point of debate during the drafting of the Constitution.

The Great Compromise combined elements of the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan, reconciling the differing preferences of large and small states. The Virginia Plan, proposed by James Madison, advocated for a bicameral legislature with representation in both houses proportional to each state's population. This plan favoured larger states, as they would have greater representation based on their size. On the other hand, the New Jersey Plan, proposed by William Paterson, suggested a unicameral legislature where each state had a single vote, thus ensuring equal representation for all states regardless of their population.

The compromise reached through the Great Compromise established a bicameral legislature consisting of two chambers: the Senate and the House of Representatives. In the Senate, each state would have equal representation, with two senators representing each state. This aspect addressed the concerns of smaller states, ensuring they had a voice in the legislative process. Meanwhile, the House of Representatives would be based on proportional representation, where the number of representatives from each state would be determined by its population.

The establishment of a bicameral legislature through the Great Compromise had a significant impact on the functioning of the United States government. It created a system of checks and balances, with the Senate and the House of Representatives providing a balance of power between the larger and smaller states. Additionally, the process of passing legislation became more deliberate, requiring approval from both chambers. This ensured that laws were carefully considered and debated before being enacted.

The Great Compromise was a pivotal moment in the creation of the United States Constitution, demonstrating the delegates' ability to find common ground and resolve contentious issues. It shaped the structure of Congress and laid the foundation for the system of representation that continues to this day.

Fugitive Clause: free states had to help recapture runaway slaves

The Fugitive Slave Act of 1793 was enacted to address the issue of runaway slaves in the United States. This Act was enforced by Article IV, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution, which authorised federal judges and state magistrates to decide, without a jury trial, on the status of an alleged fugitive from slavery. The Act met with opposition in the Northern states, with some jurisdictions passing personal liberty laws mandating a jury trial before alleged fugitive slaves could be moved, and others forbidding the use of local jails or the assistance of state officials in arresting or returning fugitive slaves.

The issue of fugitive slaves became even more contentious with the passage of the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850. This Act, passed by Congress on September 18, 1850, was part of the Compromise of 1850, which included a series of bills addressing multiple issues related to slavery. The 1850 Act required the return of runaway slaves, even if they had escaped to a free state. It also made the federal government responsible for finding, returning, and trying escaped slaves. Heavy penalties were imposed on federal officials who refused to enforce the law or from whom a fugitive escaped, as well as on individuals who aided in the escape of enslaved people.

The Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 sparked outrage and contributed to the growing tensions between the North and the South. Southern politicians often exaggerated the number of people escaping enslavement and blamed Northern abolitionists for interfering with their "property rights". Despite the Act, some Northern states continued to defy federal law and assist runaway slaves. For example, the Wisconsin Supreme Court declared the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 unconstitutional in 1855, and local Northern juries often acquitted individuals accused of violating the law.

The Fugitive Slave Clause in the new Constitution reflected the compromise reached between the free states and the slave states. While the free states had to assist in the recapture of runaway slaves, they also gained some concessions, such as the admission of California as a free state and the abolition of the slave trade in Washington, D.C. The Fugitive Slave Clause, while controversial, was an attempt to balance the interests of the North and the South and maintain the Union intact.

Three-Fifths Compromise: slaves counted as three-fifths of a free person for House representation

The Three-Fifths Compromise, also known as the Constitutional Compromise of 1787, was an agreement reached during the 1787 United States Constitutional Convention. This agreement was made over the inclusion of slaves in counting a state's total population. This total population count would determine the number of seats in the House of Representatives, the number of electoral votes each state would be allocated, and how much money the states would pay in taxes.

The Southern states wanted each slave to count as a full person, whereas the Northern states did not want them to be counted at all. The Southern states wanted this as they had an agricultural economy and relied heavily on trade. On the other hand, the Northern states were industrialized and wanted to impose import tariffs on finished products. The Southern states feared that export tariffs on their raw goods would hurt their trade.

The Three-Fifths Compromise counted three-fifths of each state's slave population toward that state's total population for the purpose of apportioning the House of Representatives. This gave the Southern states more power in the House relative to the North. This compromise also reduced the representation of the slave states relative to the original proposals. An inducement for slave states to accept the Compromise was its tie to taxation in the same ratio, so the burden of taxation on the slave states was also reduced.

Free black people and indentured servants were not subject to the compromise and each was counted as one full person for representation. In the United States Constitution, the Three-Fifths Compromise is part of Article 1, Section 2, Clause 3. In 1868, Section 2 of the Fourteenth Amendment superseded this clause and explicitly repealed the compromise.

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Tariffs: only allowed on imports, not exports

The issue of tariffs was a significant point of contention during the Constitutional Convention, with the Northern and Southern states holding opposing views. The Northern states, which had an industrialised economy, sought to impose import tariffs on finished products to protect their domestic industries from foreign competition. They also wanted to levy export tariffs on raw goods to boost revenue for the country.

However, the Southern states, with their agricultural-based economy, relied heavily on trade and feared that export tariffs on their raw goods would negatively impact their economic lifeline. They argued against any measures that would disrupt their ability to trade and sell their goods abroad.

To resolve this dispute, a compromise was reached: tariffs would only be allowed on imports from foreign countries and not on exports from the United States. This agreement also included provisions for federal regulation of interstate commerce and the requirement for a two-thirds majority in the Senate to pass any commerce legislation. This compromise aimed to balance the interests of both regions, protecting the North's domestic industries while ensuring the South's trade remained unhindered.

This tariff compromise was a significant aspect of the broader negotiations and concessions made during the Constitutional Convention. The convention witnessed several other critical compromises, such as the Great Compromise or the Connecticut Compromise, which addressed the issue of state representation in Congress. The Great Compromise proposed a bicameral legislature with two chambers: the Senate, providing equal representation for each state, and the House of Representatives, offering representation based on state population.

Additionally, the issue of slavery was a volatile topic that threatened to divide the nation. The Northern states, opposed to slavery, sought to block its expansion and prevent any constitutional protections for slavery. Meanwhile, the Southern states, reliant on slavery as a vital economic pillar, fought for protections against future abolitionist efforts. A compromise was reached, with the North agreeing to delay congressional action on the slave trade until 1808, while the South accepted a temporary advantage for the North in the House of Representatives due to the Three-Fifths Clause, which counted enslaved persons as three-fifths of a free person for representation purposes.

Selection of the President: the Electoral College system

The Electoral College system was a compromise reached to address the issue of how the president would be elected. The delegates at the Constitutional Convention had differing views on the process of selecting the president. Some, like James Wilson, advocated for direct popular election, while others supported alternative systems, such as selection by members of Congress or state governors. The Electoral College emerged as a middle ground between these positions.

The Electoral College offered several advantages. Firstly, it allowed for the election of the president by individuals who were not necessarily affiliated with any political party or faction. This was intended to mitigate the influence of factions and ensure that the president was chosen based on merit rather than political affiliations. Secondly, the system guaranteed every state at least three electors, regardless of population size, thereby granting smaller states a more significant role in the electoral process. Thirdly, the participation of both state and federal governments in the Electoral College helped balance their respective interests.

The Three-Fifths Clause, which counted enslaved people as three-fifths of a person for congressional representation, also impacted the Electoral College. This clause increased pro-slavery influence in the Electoral College, as enslaved individuals were counted for the purpose of determining voting power. This aspect of the compromise was a contentious issue, with Northern states arguing against counting enslaved individuals towards representation, while Southern states insisted on it.

The Electoral College has been a subject of ongoing debate and criticism. Critics argue that it violates the principle of one person, one vote, by affording smaller governments disproportionate power. Additionally, the Electoral College has been criticised because, on several occasions, the winner of the popular vote has not won the presidency. Despite these objections, the Electoral College remains in use in the United States today.

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