COMPROMISES NEEDED FOR RATIFICATION OF THE CONSTITUTION

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXA4Ob3s-V0

The new government’s second attempt at a constitution proved difficult.  Investing more power in the federal government was necessary but there was much debate over the amount and type of power it should have.  Many representatives at the Constitutional Convention in 1787 sought to preserve state control while others urged a dominant central government.  Without the compromises made at the constitutional convention, there probably would not have been enough support for the Constitution and it would not have been ratified by the states.

THE GREAT COMPROMISE Bi Cameral (two houses) 

DISPUTE: Populous states favored representation based on population while less populated states favored an equal number of representatives from each state.

TERMS OF COMPROMISE: Both large and small states were accommodated by a Congress made up of two houses.  Population would be the basis for representation in the House of Representatives.  In the Senate, all states would have equal representation, with two Senators representing each state.

THE 3/5 ths COMPROMISE

DISPUTE: Southern states felt that slaves should be counted when determining representation for each state.  Northern states argued that only free persons should be counted when determining representation.

TERMS OF COMPROMISE: Population counts for the purpose of representation would include all free persons and allow slaves to be counted as well.  Every five slaves would be counted as three free people.

COMMERCE AND SLAVE TRADE COMPROMISE

DISPUTE: Southern states sought no Congressional interference in the slave trade.  They also wanted to protect their cotton trade with Great Britain.  The Northern states wanted Congress to regulate both foreign as well as interstate trade.  This would allow only the national government, not each state, to impose tariffs.

TERMS OF COMPROMISE:  Regulation of foreign and interstate trade was controlled by the federal government.  In return, the slave trade would not be outlawed until 1808.  To guarantee the South’s cotton trade, export taxes were made illegal.

ELECTION OF THE PRESIDENT

DISPUTE: Those wishing more democracy sought the election of the President directly by the people and election to a short term in office.  Those distrusting the common voter wanted to see the President elected by Congress and elected to a longer term in office.

TERMS OF COMPROMISE:  The President would be elected to a four-year term of office.  He would be elected indirectly by the people through the use of the Electoral College.

INCLUSION OF A BILL OF RIGHTS

DISPUTE: Those favoring a strong national government felt the original Constitution provided enough protection of individual rights.  Anti-Federalists refused to vote for the Constitution without this written guarantee.

TERMS OF COMPROMISE:  The first ten Amendments of the Constitution were added to guarantee individual rights.  These amendments, called the Bill of Rights, include such rights as freedom of speech, press, religion, and assembly, the right to bear arms, no cruel and unusual punishment, and rights of those accused of a crime.