Download Compromises of the Constitution

AP US History
Worksheet #14
Compromises of the Constitution
A. Background
By 1787, the colonist realized that there were problems with their
new government under the Articles of Confederation. Shay’s
Rebellion was the final straw and a Constitutional Convention was
called to order in Philadelphia. At this convention there were 55
delegates (representatives) from 12 out of the 13 states. Rhode
Island did not attend. This convention ran from May 25, 1787 to
September 17, 1787. The debates at the Constitutional Convention
involved much disagreement and compromise. The issues that had
to be negotiated (and compromised on) were: representation in
Congress; counting slaves within the population to include them in
representation and regulating foreign and domestic (trade between
states).
B. Compromising!
Directions: Pretend your group has been put in charge of finalizing the Constitution.
Unfortunately, there are still some issues that are still not resolved concerning slavery
and the rights of the people. You will compare the two sides of each issue and create a
compromise that will make everyone happy!
Conflicting
Groups
Small States
vs. Large States
Southern States
Vs.
Northern States
Trade and
Disagreements
Made the national government
primary and reduced the states to
secondary position. It envisioned
the United States as one large
country. Under the Virginia Plan,
representation for each state in
both the Senate and the House of
Representatives is based on taxes
paid to the national government or
the number of free residents (both
of which favor large states).
One provision of the plan gave the
national government the right to
veto legislation. This was a reform
of the Articles of Confederation
instead of a whole new plan.
There was a single legislative (law
making) group; in which each
state would have equal
representation (favors smaller
states). It gave Congress greater
powers over commerce (trade).
The New Jersey Plan also created
the executive and judicial branch.
The Southern states wanted to
obtain maximum representation
but minimum taxation, the
Southern states propose that (a)
slaves be counted as part of the
population for representation in
the House of Representatives,
and (b) slaves not be counted for
the purpose of direct taxation by
the National government.
The Northern states opposed this
plan because they did not have
slaves and therefore received no
benefit from this plan.
Most of the men who would be
involved in Congress were living in
Compromise that
was reached
How does this
compromise satisfy the
needs of those involved?
Commerce
Federalists
Vs.
AntiFederalists
the north – mostly manufacturers
– they wanted to make sure a
strong federal government would
control the trade laws.
Federalist: wanted a strong
national government to provide
order and protect the rights of the
people.
Anti-Federalists: wanted a weak
national government so that it
would not threaten the rights of
people and states, therefore
favored an assurances of rights.
The Great Compromise (Connecticut Compromise)
The problem of representation was solved by creating a Congress consisting of two houses. In one house, the
Senate, each state would be represented equally by two senators. In the other, the House of Representatives, each
state would be represented based on the size of their population.
The 3/5 Compromise
The problem was solved by counting five slaves as three persons for both taxation and representation.
The Commerce Compromise
The problem was solved by granting Congress the power to regulate trade between the states, regulate foreign trade,
and to place taxes on imports. However, Congress could not tax exports. Finally, Congress would not stop the slave
trade (importation of slaves) for a period of 20 years, until the year 1808.
Compromise of the Presidency
The resulting compromise was the indirect election of the President through the Electoral College system. There was
an agreement to add on the Bill of Rights to the Constitution.
The Constitution was a compromise between slaveholding interests of the South and the mainly manufacturing and shipping of
the North. In order to unite the thirteen states into one great market for commerce, the northern delegates wanted laws
regulating interstate commerce, and urged that such laws require only a majority of Congress to pass. The South agreed to
this, in return for allowing the trade of slaves to continue for twenty years. -- Howard Zinn
“Inasmuch as the primary object of a government, …is making of rules which determine the property relations of
members of society, the dominant classes whose rights are thus to be determined must obtain from the government
such rules as are consistent with the larger interests necessary to the continuance or their economic progress…”
–Charles Beard
How many Framers were slaveholders?
More than 100 slaves:
G. Mason, VA……………………300 + slaves
J. Rutledge, S.C……………………243
G. Washington, VA……………………260
P. Butler, S.C. ……………………143
C. Pickney, S.C……………………111
50-100 Slaves:
R. Spaight, N.C……………………71
C.C. Pickney, S.C……………………70
D. Carroll, MD……………………53
10-50 Slaves:
A. Martin, N.C……………………47
W. Davie, N.C……………………36
W. Blount, N.C……………………30
D. Jenifer, MD……………………20
E. Randolph, VA……………………16
J. Blair, VA……………………15
Fewer than 10 slaves:
J. Madison, VA
L. Martin, MD
G. Read, DEL