AP US History Worksheet #14

Compromises of the ConstitutionA. BackgroundBy 1787, the colonist realized that there were problems with their new government under the Articles of Confederation. Shay’s Rebellion was the final straw and a Constitutional Convention was called to order in Philadelphia. At this convention there were 55 delegates (representatives) from 12 out of the 13 states. Rhode Island did not attend. This convention ran from May 25, 1787 to September 17, 1787. The debates at the Constitutional Convention involved much disagreement and compromise. The issues that had to be negotiated (and compromised on) were: representation in Congress; counting slaves within the population to include them in representation and regulating foreign and domestic (trade between states).

B. Compromising!Directions: Pretend your group has been put in charge of finalizing the Constitution. Unfortunately, there are still some issues that are still not resolved concerning slavery and the rights of the people. You will compare the two sides of each issue and create a compromise that will make everyone happy!

Conflicting Groups Disagreements

Compromise that was reached

How does this compromise satisfy the

needs of those involved?

Small States

vs. Large States

Made the national government primary and reduced the states to secondary position. It envisioned the United States as one large country. Under the Virginia Plan, representation for each state in both the Senate and the House of Representatives is based on taxes paid to the national government or the number of free residents (both of which favor large states). One provision of the plan gave the national government the right to veto legislation. This was a reform of the Articles of Confederation instead of a whole new plan. There was a single legislative (law making) group; in which each state would have equal representation (favors smaller states). It gave Congress greater powers over commerce (trade). The New Jersey Plan also created the executive and judicial branch.

Southern States

Vs.Northern States

The Southern states wanted to obtain maximum representation but minimum taxation, the Southern states propose that (a) slaves be counted as part of the population for representation in the House of Representatives, and (b) slaves not be counted for the purpose of direct taxation by the National government. The Northern states opposed this plan because they did not have slaves and therefore received no benefit from this plan.

Trade and

Most of the men who would be involved in Congress were living in the north – mostly manufacturers

Commerce

– they wanted to make sure a strong federal government would control the trade laws.

FederalistsVs.

Anti- Federali

sts

Federalist: wanted a strong national government to provide order and protect the rights of the people.

Anti-Federalists: wanted a weak national government so that it would not threaten the rights of people and states, therefore favored an assurances of rights.

The Great Compromise (Connecticut Compromise)The problem of representation was solved by creating a Congress consisting of two houses. In one house, the Senate, each state would be represented equally by two senators. In the other, the House of Representatives, each state would be represented based on the size of their population.

The 3/5 CompromiseThe problem was solved by counting five slaves as three persons for both taxation and representation.

The Commerce CompromiseThe problem was solved by granting Congress the power to regulate trade between the states, regulate foreign trade, and to place taxes on imports. However, Congress could not tax exports. Finally, Congress would not stop the slave trade (importation of slaves) for a period of 20 years, until the year 1808.

Compromise of the PresidencyThe resulting compromise was the indirect election of the President through the Electoral College system. There was an agreement to add on the Bill of Rights to the Constitution.

The Constitution was a compromise between slaveholding interests of the South and the mainly manufacturing and shipping of the North. In order to unite the thirteen states into one great market for commerce, the northern delegates wanted laws regulating interstate commerce, and urged that such laws require only a majority of Congress to pass. The South agreed to this, in return for allowing the trade of slaves to continue for twenty years. -- Howard Zinn

“Inasmuch as the primary object of a government, …is making of rules which determine the property relations of members of society, the dominant classes whose rights are thus to be determined must obtain from the government such rules as are consistent with the larger interests necessary to the continuance or their economic progress…”

–Charles Beard

How many Framers were slaveholders?More than 100 slaves:G. Mason, VA……………………300 + slaves 10-50 Slaves:J. Rutledge, S.C……………………243 A. Martin, N.C……………………47 Fewer than 10 slaves:G. Washington, VA……………………260 W. Davie, N.C……………………36 J. Madison, VAP. Butler, S.C. ……………………143 W. Blount, N.C……………………30 L. Martin, MDC. Pickney, S.C……………………111 D. Jenifer, MD……………………20 G. Read, DEL

E. Randolph, VA……………………1650-100 Slaves: J. Blair, VA……………………15R. Spaight, N.C……………………71C.C. Pickney, S.C……………………70D. Carroll, MD……………………53