Compromise in U.S. Constitution Drafting

Questions and Answers

What is a strategy?

Compare and contrast similarities and differences lined up next to each other.

Which industries were more prevalent in the northern region states?

Diverse industries including shoemakers, printers, shipbuilders, and barrel makers.

What characterized the economy of the southern states?

An economy based mostly on agriculture, mainly around plantations growing crops.

What does 'diffuse' refer to in the context of plantations?

Living on large areas of land spread out across the countryside. Signup and view all the answers

The _______ from all states wanted to protect their states' interest.

delegates Signup and view all the answers

What did the North want the constitution to protect?

Industry Signup and view all the answers

What did the South want the constitution to protect?

Agriculture and the enslaved population Signup and view all the answers

What varied needs did the thirteen states have?

Different needs and priorities. Signup and view all the answers

How can states with larger and smaller populations be described?

Compare and contrast. Signup and view all the answers

What role did compromise play in the drafting of the Constitution?

It facilitated agreement between the interests of large and small states. Signup and view all the answers

Which plan supported the interests of larger states?

Virginia Plan Signup and view all the answers

Which plan was designed to support smaller states?

New Jersey Plan Signup and view all the answers

The North wanted a Constitution that protected agriculture.

False Signup and view all the answers

The problem between states was about representation based on population.

True Signup and view all the answers

What is the Great Compromise?

It was an agreement between large and small states to create a bicameral legislature. Signup and view all the answers

Virginia had the _______ population state.

largest Signup and view all the answers

The Virginia Plan supported a unicameral legislature.

False Signup and view all the answers

What are the two questions that needed to be decided at the Constitutional Convention?

How should representation be decided and how should enslaved persons be counted? Signup and view all the answers

What does bicameral mean?

Having two branches or chambers Signup and view all the answers

What term describes an electoral system where parties gain seats in proportion to votes cast?

Proportional representation Signup and view all the answers

The delegates from all states wanted to protect their states' interests.

True Signup and view all the answers

What describes the state's population situation in 1790?

Some states had more than 600,000 residents Signup and view all the answers

The Constitution did not need to compromise between the northern and southern states.

False Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Role of Compromise in Drafting the Constitution

Compromise was essential in addressing division and debate between large and small states during the drafting of the Constitution.
Northern states favored an industrial economy with diverse industries, while Southern states relied on agriculture and had large enslaved populations.

Distinct Economic Characteristics

Northern states showcased a variety of industries, such as shoemakers, shipbuilders, and printers, coupled with less reliance on enslaved labor.
Southern states primarily had an agrarian economy focused on plantations growing crops like cotton and wheat, leading to a significant enslaved population.

Representation Issues

Larger states sought more representatives based on population, while smaller states argued for equal representation regardless of population size.
The population disparity in states further complicated representation, with Virginia being the most populous in 1790.

Key Quotes on Representation

Edmund Randolph, a Virginia delegate, claimed that failure to secure fair representation would undermine government stability, indicating the necessity of representation to avoid injustice.

Major Compromises

The Great Compromise resolved the conflicts between the Virginia Plan (bicameral legislature based on population) and the New Jersey Plan (unicameral legislature with equal representation for each state).
The Virginia Plan favored populous states, while the New Jersey Plan supported smaller states through a single legislative vote approach.

Legislation Concepts

Bicameral: A legislative structure consisting of two chambers or houses.
Unicameral: A legislative system with a single chamber or house.

Final Thoughts on Representation

Questions regarding how to count enslaved persons for representation and whether representation should be proportional or equal prompted significant debate and necessitated compromises at the Constitutional Convention.

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Description

Explore the critical role of compromise in the drafting of the U.S. Constitution, focusing on the debates between large and small states, and their distinct economic characteristics. Learn how these discussions shaped representation and addressed the divisions of the time, specifically between northern and southern states.