Jonah Patel
The US Constitution is often referred to as a bundle of compromises or a document of political compromise because it 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, but soon realised that a more comprehensive overhaul was needed. The convention addressed several crucial issues, including the structure of Congress, the election of the president, and the issue of slavery.
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What You'll Learn
The Great Compromise
During the Constitutional Convention, two plans emerged to deal with state representation. The Virginia Plan, supported by delegates from larger states, called for each state to have a different number of representatives based on its population. On the other hand, the New Jersey Plan, favoured by delegates from smaller states, proposed that each state send the same number of representatives to Congress, regardless of population.
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The Three-Fifths Compromise
The delegates from the Northern and Southern states had differing views on the matter. Delegates from Northern states, where the economy did not rely heavily 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, on the other hand, fought for enslaved individuals to be counted in terms of representation, threatening to abandon the convention if they were not.
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The Electoral College Compromise
The United States Constitution is often referred to as a "bundle of compromises" or a "bundle of compromises and aspirations". This is because the delegates of the 13 states had to reach agreements on several key issues to create a government charter acceptable to all. One of the most significant compromises was the Electoral College Compromise, which resolved the issue of how the president would be elected.
The delegates debated for months, with some arguing that Congress should elect the president and others insisting on a democratic popular vote. The delegates from Connecticut, a small state, proposed a mixed solution that balanced state sovereignty and popular sovereignty tied to actual population. This proposal narrowly got approved and became the basis for the Electoral College Compromise.
The Electoral College is a process that consists of selecting electors, who then meet and vote for the President and Vice President. These electors are roughly proportional to the population of each state. Citizens vote for electors bound to a particular candidate, and these electors then vote for the president. This system is a compromise because the electors are not picked by Congress or elected by the people; instead, the states appoint them.
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Compromise over slavery
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 key compromises made during the Constitutional Convention was the Three-Fifths Compromise, which addressed the issue of how slaves would be counted in order to determine congressional representation and taxation. According to the agreement, each slave would be treated as three-fifths of a person, which meant that every five slaves would be counted as three individuals for representation purposes. This compromise was made between delegates from Northern and Southern states, with the former arguing that slaves should not be counted toward representation because doing so would give the South a greater number of representatives. The South, on the other hand, relied heavily on slavery and wanted slaves to be counted.
Another compromise related to slavery was the agreement to ban the importation of slaves starting in 1808. This was a contentious issue, with some delegates arguing that it would be more dishonorable to the American character to allow the importation of slaves for twenty years than to include the ban in the Constitution. Ultimately, the motion passed with New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Virginia opposed.
The issue of slavery also played a role in the Great Compromise, also known as the Connecticut Compromise. This compromise established a bicameral legislature with proportional representation in the House of Representatives and equal representation in the Senate. This balanced the interests of larger and smaller states and set the groundwork for the federal government's operation.
While these compromises over slavery were necessary to create a government charter acceptable to each of the states, the issue of slavery continued to be a volatile one and ultimately led to the Civil War.
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Compromise over state sovereignty
The US Constitution is sometimes referred to as a "bundle of compromises" or a "document of compromis". This is because delegates representing 12 of the 13 original states had to make several concessions to create a government charter that was acceptable to all. One of the key areas of compromise was state sovereignty.
The Great Compromise
The Great Compromise, also known as the Connecticut Compromise, addressed the issue of state representation. The Virginia Plan proposed representation based on each state's population, while the Jersey Plan suggested equal representation for every state. The Great Compromise combined both plans, establishing a bicameral legislature with proportional representation in the House of Representatives and equal representation in the Senate. This gave smaller states a victory of sorts, as it allowed them to retain a level of influence that reflected their importance.
Three-Fifths Compromise
Another compromise related to state sovereignty was the Three-Fifths Compromise, which addressed how slaves would be counted to determine congressional representation. Delegates from Northern states felt that enslaved people should not count towards representation, while Southern states argued for their inclusion. The compromise stated that every five enslaved people would be counted as three individuals for representation purposes.
Electoral College Compromise
The Electoral College Compromise resolved the issue of how the president would be elected. The Electoral College was created, made up of electors roughly proportional to the population. Citizens vote for electors who are bound to a particular candidate, and these electors then vote for the president. This compromise aimed to balance the interests of larger and smaller states.
Commerce and Tariffs
A further compromise related to state sovereignty was the agreement that tariffs would only be allowed on imports from foreign countries, not on exports from the US. This compromise also gave the federal government control over interstate commerce and required that all commerce legislation be passed by a two-thirds majority in the Senate, which gave more power to the South and countered the influence of the more populous Northern states.
These compromises over state sovereignty were essential in creating a constitution that balanced the interests and perspectives of both larger and smaller states.
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Frequently asked questions
The United States Constitution is a document that outlines the country's fundamental laws and principles. It establishes a federal government with three branches: the legislative, executive, and judicial.
The Constitution was created through a series of compromises among the delegates to the Constitutional Convention of 1787. The delegates, representing different interests and perspectives, had to find common ground on several key issues, including state representation, slavery, and the election of the president.
One significant compromise was the Great Compromise, which established a bicameral legislature with proportional representation in the House of Representatives and equal representation in the Senate. Another was the Three-Fifths Compromise, which addressed how slaves would be counted for representation and taxation purposes. Additionally, the Electoral College Compromise resolved the issue of how the president would be elected, opting for an electoral college system instead of a direct popular vote.
The delegates to the Constitutional Convention had differing views and interests, particularly between larger and smaller states. Compromises were necessary to bridge these gaps and create a unified document that all parties could agree on. While not everyone was fully satisfied with the outcome, the Constitution was ratified by the required number of states and has served as the foundation of the U.S. federal government for over two centuries.
