Background: Fifty-five delegates met at the constitutional convention in Philadelphia in 1787. The delegates were charged with the task of amending the Articles of Confederation. However, they quickly decided to jettison the Articles and write a new constitution. Because the delegates came from all parts of the country -- every state but Rhode Island was represented -- they differed on a number of key issues. In order to keep the convention going and ensure ratification of the Constitution, the delegates had to compromise a number of times. As a result, the final document is sometimes described as a "bundle" of compromises. Some of the most important compromises are listed below.
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| Representation |
Small States V. Large States * Small states wanted all states to have the same number of
representatives to Congress |
The Constitution creates a bicameral legislature. In the House of Representatives, representation is determined by population. A census is taken every ten years to determine the population of each state. In the Senate, all states have the same number of representatives: two. |
| Should slaves count as part of the population? |
* Southern States wanted slaves to count as part of the population for determining representation but not to count when apportioning taxes. * Northern states wanted slaves to count for the purpose of taxation but not for representation |
The 3/5ths Compromise: Delegates agreed to count slaves as 3/5ths of a person when apportioning representation and taxation |
| Tariffs |
Northern Businessmen * Southerners opposed tariffs fearing they would damage the Southern economy which was heavily dependent upon trade. * Northerners wanted tariffs to protect their industries from foreign competition. |
The Commerce Compromise: The Constitution allows the federal government to tax imports but not exports. |
| Slave Trade |
V. Southern Slave Owners * Northern abolitionists wanted the Constitution to ban the (external) slave trade. They believed that slavery would eventually prove unprofitable and die out. *Southern Slave owners argued that slavery was vital to the economic survival of the South |
Slave Trade Compromise: Congress was given the power to ban the slave trade after 1808. |
| Executive Elections | Some delegates believed the president should be elected directly by the people. Others believed that the people could not be trusted with such a decision. Opponents of direct election offered a number of alternatives including election by state legislatures. |
Compromise on Executive Elections: The president is elected indirectly by the electoral college to a four year term of office. |