Constitutional Compromises IConstitution

Intro Intro Why is compromise necessary? What are the competing factions?

Compromises Constitution

Compromises Basics Compromises were necessary to get ¾ of states to agree Competing Groups Compromise Result Big vs Small states Connecticut Compromise A bicameral legislature that included equal and proportional representation Slave vs Free states Three Fifths Compromise Three fifths of slaves in each state were counted for representation in the legislature Northern vs Southern states War Debt Compromise Southern states essentially ended up paying for the war, but capital was moved to the “South”

Legislative Compromises Constitution

Compromises Representation First step is to create legislature Virginia Plan – representation based on population New Jersey Plan – representation equal for each state

Compromises Representation Virginia Plan Seats apportioned according to each state’s population Bicameral legislature – (2 houses, one picked by people, 1 by states) Would have created a Parliamentary government Satisfied big states, like Virginia

Compromises Representation New Jersey Plan Seats distributed equally among all states Unicameral legislature, with one vote for each state Would have essentially kept Articles legislature intact Satisfied small states, like New Jersey

Compromises Representation Connecticut Compromise Virginia Plan – becomes the House of Representatives – the lower house New Jersey Plan – becomes the Senate – the upper house Represents the people – directly elected by people in districts, seats proportional to population Represents the states – appointed by state legislatures, 2 per state in staggered terms

Compromises Representation Impact of Connecticut Compromise Large and small states satisfied enough to ratify Constitution Today gives small states outsized influence over government Majority of Senate (51) could represent only 18% of population Essentially impossible to amend.

Three Fifths Compromise Constitution

Compromises Slavery Consequence of Virginia Plan Do people held in slavery count as part of population? South will not ratify a plan that does not include them North will not ratify a plan that counts them.

Compromises Slavery Three Fifths Compromise Three fifths of “all other Persons” are counted for population South demands that North agree to Fugitive Slave Law (in form of extradition) North demands that South stop the importation of slaves (20 years after ratification)

Compromises Slavery Impact of Three Fifths Compromise Counting people in slavery inflates the populations of Slave states by 60% Slave states dominate voting in the House of Representatives Prevented ending slavery earlier Slave states have disproportionate amount of Electoral Votes 4 of first 5 POTUS from Virginia

War Debt Compromise Constutution

Compromises War Debt North South Economies based on industry, not successful under Articles govt. Economies based on agriculture and slavery, successful Unable to pay off war debts War debts paid off quickly

Compromises War Debt North South Gets national government to assume war debts Get national capital moved to South – between two southern states Essentially means South pays Northern debt

Bigly Ideas Constitution

Connecticut Compromise History Wrap Up Why compromise? VA & NJ Plans Connecticut Compromise Impact of 3/5 Compromise Focus on these things: