The Philadelphia ConventionConflicts 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”
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)
• 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)
Plans
• William Patterson made the formal argument for equal representation =
The New Jersey Plan
James Madison argued for proportional representation =
The Virginia Plan
What do you think?
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.
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.
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.
• 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.
• 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.
What do you think?
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.
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.
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
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
