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The Philadelphia Convention Conflicts and Compromises
16

The Philadelphia Convention Conflicts and Compromises.

Dec 13, 2015

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Sylvia Crawford
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Page 1: The Philadelphia Convention Conflicts and Compromises.

The Philadelphia ConventionConflicts and Compromises

Page 2: The Philadelphia Convention Conflicts and Compromises.

Basic Overview

• Held in Philadelphia, PA• Intended to only Revise Articles of

Confederation.• George Washington elected to preside

over convention.• End result-Writing of US Constitution• 55 delegates created Constitution.• James Madison “Father of Constitution”

Page 3: The Philadelphia Convention Conflicts and Compromises.

Conflict: Representation!

• Small population states were afraid that the states with larger populations would control the new national government. They thought each state should have the same number of representatives:

equal representation(one state = one vote)

Page 4: The Philadelphia Convention Conflicts and Compromises.

• Large population states thought equal representation was unfair. They argued that a state with more people should have more representation in Congress:

proportional representation(based on population)

Page 5: The Philadelphia Convention Conflicts and Compromises.

Plans

• William Patterson made the formal argument for equal representation =

The New Jersey Plan

James Madison argued for proportional representation =

The Virginia Plan

Page 6: The Philadelphia Convention Conflicts and Compromises.

What do you think?

Page 7: The Philadelphia Convention Conflicts and Compromises.

Compromise!

• Roger Sherman of Connecticut proposed a solution (first suggested by Benjamin Franklin):

• Congress would have 2 houses (bicameral)• House of Representatives would have

proportional representation & the power to develop all bills for taxing & spending.

• Senate would have equal representation & could accept or reject bills passed by the house.

Page 8: The Philadelphia Convention Conflicts and Compromises.

The Great Compromise

• Each side received a little & gave up a little.

• The result was that large states had slightly more influence over the creation of laws, but the Senate, where representation was equal, had the power to decline any law.

• The plan was hotly debated, but passed by one vote.

Page 9: The Philadelphia Convention Conflicts and Compromises.

Conflict: North versus South

• The southern economy was agricultural, with plantations relying on slavery.

• Northern states had more economic diversity – manufacturing & industry which relied on free labor.

• The North was also a shipping & trade center – competing with Great Britain.

Page 10: The Philadelphia Convention Conflicts and Compromises.

• The northern states wanted protective tariffs = taxes on products imported from other nations.

• The southern states argued that this would increase the cost of items they bought & that England might retaliate & place tariffs on southern agricultural goods sold in Europe.

Page 11: The Philadelphia Convention Conflicts and Compromises.

• Slavery was critical to the economy of the South, but an offensive idea to the states in the North.

• Slaves, although a large part of the South’s population, did not count in the census figures for representation.

Page 12: The Philadelphia Convention Conflicts and Compromises.

What do you think?

Page 13: The Philadelphia Convention Conflicts and Compromises.

Compromises!

• The South agreed to let Congress issue protective tariffs where necessary.

• The North agreed to allow the Southern states to calculate population including slaves using the three-fifths clause: for every 5 slaves, add 3 to population (or 3/5 of a person).

• The Fugitive Slave Clause was added to ensure the return of runaways to their owners.

Page 14: The Philadelphia Convention Conflicts and Compromises.

Conflict: How Much Power?

• The problem was to create a national government that was strong enough to protect the rights of the people, but not so strong that it would endanger those rights.

Page 15: The Philadelphia Convention Conflicts and Compromises.

Compromise: General & Specific

• General language allows for broad interpretation of assigned powers. It does not allow for limits on power.

example: general welfare clause, necessary & proper clause

• Specific language can be found in the enumerated powers.

example: Article I, Sec. 8

Page 16: The Philadelphia Convention Conflicts and Compromises.

The Greatest Power

• “This Constitution, and the laws of the United States. . . Shall be the supreme law of the land; and the judges in every State shall be bound thereby. . “

supremacy clause