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Constitutional Compromises
IConstitution
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Intro Intro Why is compromise necessary?
What are the competing factions?
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Compromises Constitution
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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”
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Legislative Compromises
Constitution
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Compromises Representation First step is to create legislature
Virginia Plan – representation based on population New Jersey Plan – representation equal for each state
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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
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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
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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
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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.
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Three Fifths Compromise
Constitution
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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.
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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)
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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
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War Debt Compromise Constutution
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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
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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
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Bigly Ideas Constitution
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Connecticut Compromise
History Wrap Up Why compromise? VA & NJ Plans Connecticut Compromise Impact of 3/5 Compromise Focus on these things:
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