Dylan+F+-+Compromise+Reigns+Project

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After the United States won their independence from Great Britain, they were faced with the task of establishing their own government. Congress produced a constitution called The Articles of Confederation. Unfortunately, this constitution was deeply flawed, and the states were constantly arguing.

55 delegates met in Philadelphia to revise the Articles of Confederation. The quarreling of the states was evidence that the Articles weren’t working. “Many of their quarrels were about taxes on goods that crossed state borders” (History Alive 104). Trade between states was plagued with taxes. “…the new nation also had serious money problems” (History Alive 105). The lack of a single currency led to much debt, and eventually to a rebellion.

The first topic of debate for the Convention was the structure of the new government. Delegates from Virginia proposed a plan. “…Congress was to be made up of two houses, the House of Representatives and the Senate” (History Alive 109). According to the plan, a state’s representation was dependent on its population. As stated on Hippocampus, this “would give larger states, such as Virginia, a distinct advantage over smaller states,” something small states obviously opposed (“State’s Plans”).

Delegates from New Jersey presented a plan of their own. In many ways, it was similar to the Virginia plan, but the New Jersey plan stated “…each state would have an equal vote in Congress” (History Alive 109). The delegates agreed on a compromise: Congress would be made up of two houses, the House of Representatives and the Senate. Representation in the House depended on a state’s population, and each state would have two senators regardless of population.

The next topic for debate was slaves’ effect on a state’s population. The North believed that “Slaves should be counted only as property” (History Alive 111). They believed that, because slaves were treated like property, they didn’t deserve representation. Slaves largely populated southern states, and so the South proposed “…slaves should be counted the same as any other people in determining representation” (History Alive 111). The South, like everyone else, wanted as much representation as possible in Congress. Eventually, a compromise was put forth, that slaves should be counted as “3/5 of a person”.

Lastly, the delegates debated trade regulation. With the interest of Northern business in mind, “…Northern delegates favored giving Congress broad power to control trade between the states and other countries,” (History Alive 112). Southern delegates were wary of the idea. “They worried that Congress might try to tax southern export crops such as rice and tobacco” (History Alive 112). They also feared Congress would outlaw the slave trade. A compromise was finally settled upon. Congress would have control over trade, but it could not tax exports or interfere with the slave trade for 20 years.

The convention agreed on compromises about the structure of the new government, slavery, and trade regulation. Slaves would be counted as 3/5 of a person, the states would be governed by a two-house Congress, and, after 20 years, Congress would have complete control over trade. It took months, but the delegates settled the heated disputes.