Jonah Patel
The US Constitution, ratified by all 13 states in 1789, is sometimes called a bundle of compromises due to the numerous concessions made to create a government charter acceptable to each state. The Great Compromise, for instance, addressed the issue of representation in Congress, establishing the House of Representatives with proportional representation and the Senate with equal representation for each state. The Three-Fifths Compromise was another morally dubious agreement, determining that enslaved people would be counted as three-fifths of a person in a state's political representation. The Commerce Compromise gave Congress the authority to control domestic and international trade, except the slave trade for at least 20 years. The delegates also agreed on the Electoral College as a method of selecting the president, guaranteeing every state at least three electors.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Great Compromise | Established a bicameral legislature with proportional representation in the House of Representatives and equal representation in the Senate |
| Three-Fifths Compromise | Enslaved people were counted as less than free people in a state's political representation |
| Commerce Compromise | Congress would have the authority to control domestic and international trade, but not the slave trade for at least 20 years |
| Electoral College Compromise | Each state was guaranteed at least three electors regardless of population, giving smaller states a stronger role in the presidential election |
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What You'll Learn
- The Great Compromise: a bicameral legislature with proportional representation in the House of Representatives and equal representation in the Senate
- Three-Fifths Compromise: each enslaved person counted as three-fifths of a free person for congressional representation
- Commerce Compromise: Congress could control domestic and international trade, except the slave trade for 20 years
- State vs Federal powers: specific responsibilities were given to the federal government, with all other functions delegated to the states
- Electoral College Compromise: the Electoral College was established to elect the president
The Great Compromise: a bicameral legislature with proportional representation in the House of Representatives and equal representation in the Senate
The United States Constitution was created through a series of compromises among the 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 of the United States since the American Revolution. However, the delegates soon realized that a more comprehensive overhaul was needed, and they set out to create a new constitution.
The Great Compromise, also known as the Connecticut Compromise, was a significant compromise that established a bicameral legislature with proportional representation in the House of Representatives and equal representation in the Senate. The states generally favored a bicameral legislature, but they were heavily divided over the representation in each branch of Congress. The larger states, like Virginia, argued for representation based on population, while smaller states, like New Jersey, believed that each state should have equal representation.
The Great Compromise combined the Virginia Plan, which provided representation based on state population, and the Jersey Plan, which proposed equal representation for every state. It established a bicameral legislature, with the House of Representatives apportioned by population and the Senate representing the states equally. This compromise addressed the concerns of both large and small states and convinced them to ratify the Constitution.
James Madison and James Wilson were key figures in the debates surrounding the Great Compromise. They won the fight over representation in the House but suffered a defeat over representation in the Senate. Madison later defended the Senate and its equal state representation in the Federalist Papers, written during the battle over the ratification of the Constitution.
The Great Compromise was a crucial aspect of the U.S. Constitution, allowing for the creation of a government charter acceptable to each of the states. It demonstrated the importance of compromise and negotiation in the democratic process, ensuring that the Constitution served as the foundation of the United States federal government for over two centuries.
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Three-Fifths Compromise: each enslaved person counted as three-fifths of a free person for congressional representation
The Three-Fifths Compromise was one of the key political compromises embodied in the US Constitution. It was a result of the disagreement between the Northern and Southern states over how enslaved people should be counted in terms of representation. Delegates from the Northern states, where the economy did not rely heavily on the enslavement of African people, argued that enslaved people should not be counted towards representation. This was because counting them would give the Southern states a greater number of representatives. On the other hand, the Southern states, where the economy was heavily dependent on slavery, fought for enslaved individuals to be counted in terms of representation.
The Three-Fifths Compromise was a solution to this dispute. It mandated that each enslaved person would be counted as three-fifths of a free person for congressional representation. This meant that every five enslaved people would be counted as three individuals. This compromise greatly increased the number of congressional seats in several states, particularly in the South. It was a morally dubious agreement that reflected the entrenched slavery system in the United States at the time.
The Three-Fifths Compromise was a significant aspect of the broader debate surrounding slavery and representation during the Constitutional Convention. The issue of slavery was a central and contentious topic, with anti-slavery Northern delegates seeking to block the expansion of slavery and prevent explicit protections for slavery in the Constitution. While some framers hoped that slavery would eventually die out, delegates were also willing to protect the property rights of slaveholders and compromise with Southern slaveholders to form a new Union.
The Three-Fifths Compromise was a reflection of the delegates' attempts to balance the interests and perspectives of both the Northern and Southern states. It was a necessary compromise to bridge their differences and create a government charter acceptable to all. While it was a contentious aspect of the Constitution, it demonstrated the importance of compromise and negotiation in the democratic process.
The Three-Fifths Compromise, along with other compromises such as the Great Compromise, played a crucial role in shaping the US Constitution. These compromises allowed for the creation of a new system of government and a stronger national government compared to the one under the Articles of Confederation.
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Commerce Compromise: Congress could control domestic and international trade, except the slave trade for 20 years
The Commerce Compromise was one of several key compromises that shaped the U.S. Constitution. The delegates at the Constitutional Convention of 1787, representing 12 of the 13 original states, sought to revise the Articles of Confederation, which had governed the United States since the American Revolution. However, they soon realised that a more comprehensive overhaul was needed, and so they set out to create a new constitution.
The Commerce Compromise addressed how the new federal government should regulate business. The compromise gave Congress the authority to control domestic and international trade, except for the slave trade, which it could not touch for at least 20 years. This was a highly controversial issue, as some states feared that a central government with the power to regulate commerce might unfairly favour certain states over others. On the other hand, other states recognised the need for a central authority to control commerce to avoid trade conflicts and ensure the smooth operation of the national economy.
The Commerce Compromise was a temporary solution to the contentious issue of slavery. While many Northern delegates opposed slavery and sought to block its expansion, the Southern states argued that slavery was vital to their economy. As a result, the delegates agreed to a compromise, allowing the importation of slaves to continue for at least 20 years after the ratification of the Constitution. This compromise reflected the deeply entrenched slavery system in the United States at the time.
The Commerce Compromise was a significant aspect of the Constitution, reflecting the delicate balance of interests and perspectives among the delegates. It demonstrated the importance of compromise and negotiation in the democratic process, ensuring that the Constitution was acceptable to all the states.
In conclusion, the Commerce Compromise embodied a political agreement that granted Congress the power to regulate trade, except for the slave trade, which was protected for a limited period. This compromise addressed the conflicting views on federal power, state representation, and slavery, paving the way for the creation of a new national government.
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State vs Federal powers: specific responsibilities were given to the federal government, with all other functions delegated to the states
The United States Constitution was created through a series of compromises among the 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 of the United States since the American Revolution. However, the delegates soon realised that a more comprehensive overhaul was needed, and they set out to create a new constitution.
One of the key issues at the Convention was the question of state versus federal powers, and specifically, the division of responsibilities between the federal government and the states. This was a contentious issue, with many delegates fearing that a strong federal government would oppress its citizens. As such, a compromise was reached, whereby specific responsibilities were given to the federal government, with all other functions delegated to the states.
The federal government was given powers in areas such as regulating interstate commerce, including the authority to control domestic and international trade. It was also decided that all commerce legislation would need to be passed by a two-thirds majority in the Senate, giving more power to the Southern states and countering the influence of the more populous Northern states.
The states, on the other hand, were given powers in areas that were not specifically delegated to the federal government. This included powers such as regulating intrastate commerce and other functions that were not specifically enumerated for the federal government.
The compromise on state versus federal powers was an important step in the creation of the U.S. Constitution, as it helped to address the concerns of both sides and ensured that the federal government and the states had clearly defined roles and responsibilities.
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Electoral College Compromise: the Electoral College was established to elect the president
The Electoral College was established as a compromise between two opposing views on how the president should be elected. Some argued that the president should be elected by a vote in Congress, while others favoured a popular vote of qualified citizens. The Founding Fathers debated for months and eventually agreed on the Electoral College as a compromise.
The Electoral College is a process, not a place. It involves the selection of electors, who meet and vote for the President and Vice President. The number of electors each state has is equal to the number of members in its Congressional delegation: one for each member in the House of Representatives plus two senators. A majority of 270 electoral votes are required to elect the President.
The Electoral College was also a compromise between the Northern and Southern states regarding the representation of enslaved people. The Southern states, where enslaved people made up about one-third of the population, wanted enslaved individuals to be counted towards representation. The Northern states, where the economy did not rely heavily on slavery, opposed this. The compromise, known as the Three-Fifths Compromise, stated that every five enslaved people would be counted as three individuals for representation purposes.
The Electoral College has been criticised for allowing the winner of the popular vote to lose the presidency, as has happened multiple times in American history. Some argue that this violates the idea of one person, one vote by giving smaller states too much authority. Despite these objections, the Electoral College remains in use in the United States today.
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Frequently asked questions
The Great Compromise, also known as the Connecticut Compromise, was an agreement that established a bicameral legislature with proportional representation in the House of Representatives and equal representation in the Senate. This compromise addressed the concerns of both large and small states, with the former favouring representation based on population and the latter arguing for equal representation.
The Three-Fifths Compromise was an agreement that determined how enslaved people would be counted in terms of representation. Every five enslaved people would be counted as three individuals, which meant that enslaved people were considered less than free people in a state's political representation. This compromise was reached between delegates from Northern and Southern states, with the former arguing that enslaved people should not count towards representation and the latter fighting for enslaved individuals to be included.
The Electoral College Compromise was an agreement on the method of selecting the president. Instead of a direct popular vote, the Electoral College system was adopted, where state electors decide the winner of presidential elections. This compromise guaranteed that smaller states would have a stronger role in the presidential election, as each state was guaranteed at least three electors regardless of population.
