Compromises: The Constitution's Foundation

The US Constitution has been called a bundle of compromises due to the numerous concessions made by delegates during the Constitutional Convention of 1787. The convention was held to address issues with the Articles of Confederation, which had governed the US since its independence. Fifty-five delegates from 12 states met in Philadelphia to revise the Articles, but instead, they scrapped them and created a new Constitution. The delegates had to put aside their personal desires and adopt compromises that were acceptable to all 13 states. These included the Great Compromise, which addressed representation in Congress, and the Three-Fifths Compromise, which addressed the representation of enslaved people. Other compromises involved tariffs on imports and exports, and the creation of the Electoral College for electing the president.

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The Great Compromise

The US Constitution has been called a "bundle of compromises" because delegates had to agree on numerous key points to create a government charter acceptable to each of the 13 states. One of these key compromises was the Great Compromise, also known as the Connecticut Compromise or the Sherman Compromise, which was proposed by Connecticut delegates Roger Sherman and Oliver Ellsworth.

The Three-Fifths Compromise

The delegates from the Northern states, where the economy did not heavily rely on the enslavement of African people, felt that enslaved people should not be counted toward representation because counting them would provide the South with a greater number of representatives. Southern states fought for enslaved individuals to be counted in terms of representation, threatening to abandon the convention if they were not.

Commerce Compromise

The United States Constitution is often referred to as a "bundle of compromises" due to the numerous concessions made by delegates to create a government charter acceptable to each of the 13 states. One of the key compromises was the Commerce Compromise, which balanced the interests of the North and the South.

At the time of the Constitutional Convention, the North was industrialised and produced many finished goods, while the South had an agricultural economy and relied on importing finished goods from Britain. Northern states wanted to impose import tariffs on these foreign goods to protect against foreign competition and encourage the South to buy goods made in the North. They also wanted to implement export tariffs on raw goods to increase revenue for the United States. However, Southern states feared that export tariffs on their raw goods would hurt their trade.

The Commerce Compromise allowed tariffs on imports but not on exports, addressing the concerns of both regions. This compromise also dictated that the federal government would regulate interstate commerce and that all commerce legislation must be passed by a two-thirds majority in the Senate. This gave more power to the South, as it countered the influence of the more populous Northern states.

The Commerce Compromise was a significant aspect of the Constitution, addressing the economic differences between the North and the South and helping to create a unified government that considered the interests of all states.

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Compromise on the slave trade

The US Constitution has been called a "bundle of compromises" due to the many concessions made during its drafting to ensure its acceptability to all 13 states. One of the most significant areas of compromise was on the issue of slavery, specifically the slave trade.

The controversy over the Atlantic slave trade was a highly contentious issue during the Constitutional Convention, with Northern and Southern states taking opposing positions. Northern states, where the economy did not rely heavily on enslaved labour, wanted to end the importation and sale of enslaved people. Southern states, on the other hand, viewed slavery as vital to their economy and did not want federal interference.

A compromise was reached, known as the Three-Fifths Compromise, where enslaved individuals would be counted as three-fifths of a person for the purposes of congressional representation and voting power in the Electoral College. This gave Southern states extra representation in the House of Representatives. Additionally, the Constitution included a Fugitive Slave Clause, requiring the return of runaway slaves to their owners.

Another key compromise was on the timing of the ban on the slave trade. Some delegates proposed an immediate ban, while others wanted to protect the trade. The final agreement, known as the Slave Trade Clause, prohibited Congress from banning the slave trade for 20 years after the ratification of the Constitution, until 1 January 1808. This clause was unanimously supported by the state delegations. During this period, the number of enslaved people imported into the United States exceeded 200,000.

The issue of slavery was a highly divisive one, and these compromises were made to ensure the support of Southern states for a strong central government. However, they were ultimately unsustainable, as demonstrated by the Civil War.

Compromise on electing the president

The US Constitution has been called a "bundle of compromises" because delegates had to agree on numerous key points to create a government charter acceptable to each of the 13 states. One of the most significant compromises was the creation of the Electoral College, which elects the president.

The Electoral College was established as a compromise between electing the president through a direct popular vote and electing the president through Congress. The framers of the Constitution intended for the Electoral College to be an independent body that would elect the president. However, the development of political parties and the nomination of presidential candidates through them soon reduced the independence of electors.

The Electoral College is made up of electors from each state and the District of Columbia. The number of electors from each state is roughly proportional to its population. The electors are appointed by the states and are not considered officers or agents of the United States. They are constitutionally required to meet in their respective states and vote by ballot for the president.

The original procedure for electing the president through the Electoral College was replaced by the Twelfth Amendment in 1804. The Twelfth Amendment changed the process by requiring each elector to cast distinct votes for president and vice president, instead of two votes for president. This amendment was a response to the 1800 election, in which Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr, both Anti-Federalists, tied in the Electoral College.

The Electoral College has been criticised for not functioning as intended and for giving disproportionate power to small states. However, it remains the method for electing the president, and efforts to adopt another method have been unsuccessful.

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