The Great Compromise and Creating Constitution

The Articles of Confederation

• The Articles of Confederation was the first attempt at an American government, failing to effectively govern due to significant weaknesses.
• It lacked an executive branch, a president, and a judiciary to resolve disputes, leading to a weak central authority.
• It was primarily a congress with equal state representation, allowing individual states to veto unfavorable legislation, hindering national unity.
• The Articles government couldn't levy taxes, relying on state contributions, often denied, severely limiting its financial stability and operation.

The Constitutional Convention

• Delegates from various states convened in Philadelphia in 1787 to revise the Articles of Confederation.
• The convention ultimately abandoned the Articles and, instead, drafted a new constitution, reflecting a decision to create a stronger national government.
• Delegates from different states presented various agendas and debated the structure of the new government, often with conflicting priorities.
• Compromise was crucial in reaching agreement on the Constitution to form a unified nation.

Key Compromises in the Constitution

• The Great Compromise: Proposed by Roger Sherman, it established a bicameral legislature with a House of Representatives, representation proportional to population, satisfying larger states, and a Senate, equal representation for each state, thus appeasing smaller states.
• The Three-Fifths Compromise: Determined that each enslaved person would count as three-fifths of a free person for purposes of representation, favoring states with larger enslaved populations.
• The Bill of Rights: A set of ten amendments added to the Constitution to safeguard fundamental rights and liberties, responding to Anti-Federalist concerns about potential government overreach.

Key Players and Groups

• Federalists: Supporters of the Constitution, advocating for a strong central government, crucial for national unity. They championed the Constitution and presented their viewpoints through collected writings called "The Federalist Papers."
• Anti-Federalists: Opponents of the Constitution, advocating for a weaker central government and greater state autonomy, emphasizing individual rights and freedoms. They voiced concerns about potential abuses of power by the federal government.

Ratification of the Constitution

• The Constitution required ratification by at least nine out of thirteen states.
• Public opinion was divided, with Federalists and Anti-Federalists presenting opposing arguments.
• The ratification process played a fundamental role in shaping the Constitution through public discourse and debate.
• The promised Bill of Rights was vital in securing ratification by allaying Anti-Federalist fears about an overreaching central authority.

Importance of Compromise

• Compromise has been pivotal in the American system of governance, shaping the Constitution and facilitating consensus among diverse groups.
• The Constitution is itself a testament to compromise, illustrating its role in achieving agreement among conflicting interests.
• The balancing of diverse interests and the willingness to concede are crucial components of a healthy democratic process.

Explore the first attempt at American governance with the Articles of Confederation and the pivotal Constitutional Convention of 1787. Discover the key compromises that shaped the new Constitution and learn about the challenges faced by the early government. This quiz will test your understanding of these foundational moments in American history.