Overview
This lecture covers the major compromises made at the Constitutional Convention of 1787, focusing on how disagreements among delegates shaped the United States Constitution.
The Constitutional Convention and Its Delegates
- The Constitutional Convention brought 55 delegates together in Philadelphia during the summer of 1787 to create a new government.
- Delegates represented diverse backgrounds, states, and perspectives, requiring significant compromise.
- Notable delegates included George Washington (presiding officer), Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, and James Madison.
- James Madison was the most influential delegate, bringing extensive ideas and serving as secretary.
The Virginia Plan
- Madison's Virginia Plan proposed a new federal government with three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial.
- The legislative branch would have proportional representation based on state population, favoring larger states.
- The plan included checks and balances (separation of powers) to prevent any branch from becoming too powerful.
- Madison wanted a strong national government responsive to the American people rather than individual state interests.
The Great Compromise (Connecticut Compromise)
- Smaller states opposed the Virginia Plan, fearing loss of influence under proportional representation.
- Roger Sherman brokered the Great Compromise, establishing a bicameral legislature:
- House of Representatives: representation based on population.
- Senate: equal representation (two senators per state).
- The compromise saved the convention and set a precedent for resolving political deadlocks through compromise.
The Three-Fifths Compromise
- Addressed how enslaved people would be counted for representation in the House.
- Southern states wanted to count enslaved populations for more power; Northern states opposed.
- The compromise counted three-fifths of the enslaved population toward a state's total population.
- This boosted Southern states' representation in Congress and the Electoral College and acknowledged slavery in the Constitution.
The Slave Trade Compromise
- The Atlantic slave trade was allowed to continue for 20 years after ratification of the Constitution, mainly to appease Georgia and South Carolina.
- After 1808, Congress could choose to ban the importation of enslaved people (which it did).
- This compromise balanced Northern opposition to the trade with Southern economic interests.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Virginia Plan — A proposal for a strong federal government with three branches and representation based on population.
- Great Compromise — Agreement creating a bicameral legislature with the House (by population) and Senate (equal representation).
- Three-Fifths Compromise — Agreement to count three-fifths of enslaved persons for state population totals.
- Slave Trade Compromise — Allowed the importation of enslaved people until 1808, after which Congress could ban it.
- Checks and Balances — System ensuring no government branch has absolute power.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review how the Constitution was ratified by the states and became law.