Issues over which to compromise
1. Structure of National Government
2. Counting Slaves in the Census
3. Control of Trade/Slave Trade
4. Election of President
Structure of Government
Virginia Plan
- bicameral legislature (2
houses)
- representation in both houses
to be based on population
- separation of powers (executive
and judicial branches)
- favored larger states
New Jersey Plan
- worried about influence
of larger states
- keep 1 house legislature
- each state gets equal number
of representatives in Congress
- 1 vote per state (just like
Articles of Confederation)
GREAT COMPROMISE
- bicameral legislature
- House of Representatives:
based on population
- Senate: each states gets
2 senators
- all laws must go through
both houses
Counting Slaves in the Census
South
- count each slave in the
census
- this would increase the
South's seats in the House of Reps.
North
- slaves aren't treated as
citizens and shouldn't be counted as such
3/5 COMPROMISE
- for every 5 slaves,
3 are counted
- this fraction was
chosen b/c it would maintain a relative balance in the number of seats
apportioned
to
the South and North in the House of Representatives
Control of Trade and Slave Trade
South
- Congress should NOT control
trade b/c it might tax exports like cotton and tobacco
- Congress might also ban
the importation of slaves
North
- Congress should be able
to regulate trade between the US and other countries
SLAVE TRADE COMPROMISE
- Congress can regulate trade,
but it CANNOT...
1.
tax exports
2.
interfere with slave trade until 1808 (20 years)
Election of President
Plan C
- Congress should appoint
the President; the decision should not be left up to the people
Plan P
- direct election by the people
ELECTORAL COLLEGE
- group of electors cast vote
for president
- popular vote decides which
electors cast their ballot