Malcolm Rivera
The United States Constitution was ratified in 1787, but not without a series of compromises among the delegates to the Constitutional Convention. Two of the most significant compromises were the Great Compromise and the Three-Fifths Compromise. The Great Compromise established a bicameral legislature with proportional representation in the House of Representatives and equal representation in the Senate, addressing disputes between small and large states over how the states would be represented in the new government. The Three-Fifths Compromise addressed the issue of how slaves would be counted to determine congressional representation, with enslaved Africans being counted as three-fifths of a person.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of Compromise | The Great Compromise or Connecticut Compromise |
| Date | Adopted on July 16, 1787 |
| What it did | Established a bicameral legislature with proportional representation in the House of Representatives and equal representation in the Senate |
| Allowed each state to have one representative for every 40,000 inhabitants in the House of Representatives and two representatives in the Senate | |
| Enslaved Africans were counted as three-fifths of a person | |
| The slave trade could continue until 1808 | |
| The Senate would have equal votes from each state | |
| Revenue and spending bills would originate in the House | |
| Parties involved | Large and small states |
| Federalists and Anti-Federalists | |
| Northern and Southern slaveholders | |
| Delegates from 12 of the 13 original states |
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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: counting slaves as three-fifths of a person to determine congressional representation
- Commerce Compromise: Congress could control trade, except the slave trade for at least 20 years
- Electoral College Compromise: the election of the president by a body of people unaffiliated with any political party or faction
- Massachusetts Compromise: amendments to protect rights, such as freedom of speech, religion, and press
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.
One of the most significant compromises during the Constitutional Convention was the Great Compromise, which established a bicameral legislature with proportional representation in the House of Representatives and equal representation in the Senate. This compromise addressed the fierce debate over congressional representation, with some arguing for representation based on population and others for equal division among the states.
The Great Compromise proposed that each state would have one representative for every 40,000 inhabitants in the House of Representatives, with the compromise later amended to include three-fifths of the slave population in each state. This compromise allowed for proportional representation based on population, with the number of representatives allocated to each state proportional to its population size.
In the Senate, on the other hand, the Great Compromise proposed that each state would have equal representation, with two senators from each state. This equal representation gave smaller states a stronger role in congressional decision-making and helped address concerns about the consolidation of power in a national Congress or a central government.
The Great Compromise was adopted on July 16, 1787, after significant debate and negotiation among the delegates. It played a crucial role in the ratification of the Constitution by addressing the concerns of both larger and smaller states and providing a framework for congressional representation that balanced their interests.
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Three-Fifths Compromise: counting slaves as three-fifths of a person to determine congressional representation
The Three-Fifths Compromise was an agreement reached during the 1787 United States Constitutional Convention over the inclusion of slaves in counting a state's total population. This agreement was made to resolve the issue of how slaves would be counted in determining congressional representation. The 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.
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 Three-Fifths Compromise was one of four significant compromises made in the creation of the Constitution.
The compromise was struck to resolve the impasse between the slaveholding states and the free states. Slaveholding states wanted their entire population to be counted to determine the number of Representatives those states could elect and send to Congress. Free states, on the other hand, wanted to exclude the counting of slave populations in slave states, since those slaves had no voting rights. The compromise reduced the representation of the slave states relative to the original proposals but improved it over the Northern position.
The Three-Fifths Compromise was a morally dubious agreement that mirrored the firmly established slavery system in the United States at the time. It was debated at length between July 9 and 13 when it was initially voted down by the members present at the Convention. The compromise was also tied to taxation, with the burden of taxation on the slave states reduced in the same ratio.
The Three-Fifths Compromise was officially repealed in 1868 with the passing of the Fourteenth Amendment, which superseded Article 1, Section 2, Clause 3 of the Constitution. This amendment provided that "representatives shall be apportioned ... counting the whole number of persons in each State, excluding Indians not taxed."
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Commerce Compromise: Congress could control trade, except the slave trade for at least 20 years
The Commerce Compromise was one of several compromises made during the drafting of the US Constitution in 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, it soon became clear that a more comprehensive overhaul was needed, and they set out to create a new constitution.
The Commerce Compromise addressed how the new federal government should regulate business. The compromise allowed Congress to control domestic and international trade, except for the slave trade, which it could not ban for at least 20 years. This meant that the slave trade was protected until 1808. This clause was controversial because some states were worried that a central government with this authority might favour some states over others. However, other states recognised the need for a central authority to control commerce to avoid trade conflicts and guarantee the efficient operation of the national economy.
The Three-Fifths Compromise was another compromise that addressed the issue of how slaves would be counted to determine congressional representation. This compromise allowed state inhabitants to include three-fifths of the slaves in the state. This compromise was amended in 1913 when the Seventeenth Amendment was ratified, requiring members of the Senate to be elected by the people.
The Great Compromise was also significant, establishing a bicameral legislature with proportional representation in the House of Representatives and equal representation in the Senate. This compromise resolved one of the most controversial aspects of the drafting of the Constitution.
The Constitutional Convention required compromises to reconcile the diverse interests and viewpoints presented. The Constitution was ratified by the necessary number of states and has formed the bedrock of the US federal government for over two hundred years.
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Electoral College Compromise: the election of the president by a body of people unaffiliated with any political party or faction
The Electoral College Compromise was one of the key compromises that allowed for the ratification of the US Constitution. The delegates to the Constitutional Convention of 1787, 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.
The Electoral College Compromise addressed the issue of how the president would be elected. Some delegates supported direct popular election, while others supported election by Congress. The Electoral College Compromise was a middle ground between these two positions. It provided for the election of the president by a body of people unaffiliated with any political party or faction, known as electors. This was intended to counteract the influence of factions and ensure that the president would be chosen based on ability rather than political ties.
The Electoral College Compromise had several advantages. Firstly, it guaranteed every state at least three electors, regardless of population, giving smaller states a stronger role in the presidential election. Secondly, it allowed both the states and the federal government to participate in the presidential election, helping to balance their interests. Finally, the system of electors ensured that the president would be chosen based on merit rather than political affiliation.
The Electoral College Compromise was an important step in the creation of the US Constitution, allowing for the reconciliation of different viewpoints and interests among the delegates. The Constitution was ratified by the necessary number of states and has since formed the foundation of the US federal government for over two centuries, demonstrating the enduring significance of the compromises made during its creation.
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Massachusetts Compromise: amendments to protect rights, such as freedom of speech, religion, and press
The Massachusetts Compromise, also known as the Great Compromise, was a pivotal agreement reached during the Constitutional Convention of 1787. It addressed the contentious issue of representation in the new government, seeking to balance the interests of small and large states. The Compromise established a bicameral legislature, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives.
The House of Representatives was designed to provide proportional representation, with each state allocated one representative for every 40,000 inhabitants, including three-fifths of the state's slave population. This three-fifths clause, part of the Three-Fifths Compromise, was a contentious and morally dubious aspect of the Constitution, reflecting the entrenched system of slavery in the United States at the time.
The Senate, on the other hand, was structured to provide equal representation for each state, with members elected by the individual state legislatures. This equal representation in the Senate was intended to assuage the concerns of smaller states, ensuring they maintained a degree of influence in the legislative process.
The Massachusetts Compromise also encompassed amendments aimed at safeguarding fundamental rights and liberties, including freedom of speech, religion, and the press. The Massachusetts Constitution, Articles of Amendment, Article 46, ratified in 1917, explicitly states: "No law shall be passed prohibiting the free exercise of religion." This amendment reinforces the freedom to practice one's religion without governmental interference.
Additionally, the Massachusetts Declaration of Rights, in Article 2, underscores the freedom of speech and the press: "Congress shall make no law [...] abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances." These amendments fortify the foundations of a democratic society, protecting the rights of individuals to express their beliefs, assemble peacefully, and hold the government accountable.
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