Conflict over Representation
New Jersey Plan
• Small states were afraid that large states
would control the government
• Each state should have the same number of
representatives in Congress
• Called equal representation
• One house (unicameral) legislature
Virginia Plan
• Proposed by James Madison
• Favored more representatives for states with
larger populations
• Called proportional representation
• Two-house (bicameral) legislature
The Great Compromise
• Suggested by Ben Franklin and Roger
Sherman
• Congress would have two houses – the
Senate and the House of Representatives
• The House would be elected based on
proportional representation.
• The House would develop all money bills.
Compromise continued
• The Senate would be elected based on equal
representation.
• Senate could only accept or reject money
bills.
• House favored larger states; Senate favored
smaller states
• Compromise passed by one vote
Conflicts between North and
South
• Protective tariffs – taxes on products
imported
• North – tariffs were necessary to allow
businesses to be competitive
• Wanted the Constitution to give government
the power to control trade.
Continued
• South – tariffs would increase the cost of
goods that they bought from Europe.
• England might place tariffs on their farm
products making them harder to sell.
• Southern states were smaller giving them
less power. Opposed giving the government
power to control trade.
Conflict over Slavery
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Many framers opposed slavery
Delegates from the South favored slavery
Slaves were considered personal property
Would not be part of the government if
slavery was abolished
• Delegates from the North wanted all states
to join the Union.
Compromises
• Section 8 – power to collect taxes and
regulate trade
• Section 9 – 20 years before Congress can
regulate the slave trade
• Three-fifths Compromise – each slave
would be counted as three-fifths of a person
• Fugitive slave clause – escaped slaves must
be returned