US Constitution Drafting Conflicts and Compromises

A system where enslaved people, born to enslaved mothers after a specific law, served as indentured servants until age 28.

The debate over whether the national government should have significant power or if states should hold more autonomy.

Individuals who advocated for a strong national government with authority over states.

The arguments in favor of a powerful national government, focusing on its role in defense, trade, and infrastructure development.

The belief that slavery contradicted the core ideas expressed in the Declaration of Independence.

The belief that slavery went against the teachings of Christianity.

The Virginia Plan proposed a strong national government with legislative power over states and the ability to veto state laws.

Fears that a strong national government could become tyrannical and suppress individual rights.

A plan proposed at the Constitutional Convention that favored a stronger national government with the power to regulate commerce and enforce laws, but still preserved significant state power, including the ability to tax and influence the national government.

The belief that the government should protect individual rights and freedoms, such as life, liberty, and property, even if it means limiting the power of the government.

The belief that the government has a responsibility to maintain order and stability in society, even if it means restricting individual liberties in some cases.

A historical event where representatives from 12 states (Rhode Island didn't attend) gathered in Philadelphia to discuss and create a new framework for the U.S. government, replacing the Articles of Confederation.

The document created by the Constitutional Convention, establishing a new system of government for the United States.

The principle of dividing power between different levels of government, such as the national and state governments, ensuring no single entity holds absolute authority.

The process of finding common ground and making concessions to reach an agreement, particularly in the context of the Constitutional Convention.

The conflict between states with large populations (Virginia Plan) and states with smaller populations (New Jersey Plan) during the Constitutional Convention, centered around how representation in Congress should be determined.

The Great Compromise established a bicameral legislature with two chambers: the Senate and the House of Representatives, reflecting a balance between equal state representation and representation based on population.

The Senate, with two senators per state regardless of size, provides equal representation for each state, similar to the New Jersey Plan.

The House of Representatives provides representation based on population, mirroring the Virginia Plan. The number of representatives each state has is determined by its population.

The Great Compromise resolved the debate between the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan, offering a solution that incorporated elements from both.

Congress, the legislative branch, has significant power including taxation, maintaining military forces, regulating trade, and coining money.

Bills must pass both the Senate and the House of Representatives by a majority vote before being sent to the President for approval.

Taxation bills must originate in the House of Representatives, ensuring that those imposing taxes are directly accountable to the people who will pay them.

The Great Compromise reflects the principle of "representation" and its impact on the American political system, ensuring fair representation for both states and individual citizens.

The practice of returning escaped enslaved people to their owners, as outlined in Article IV, Clause 3 of the Constitution.

A system where the government is divided into three separate branches: legislative (Congress), executive (President), and judicial (Supreme Court).

A system where each branch of government has the power to limit the actions of the other branches, preventing any one branch from becoming too powerful.

The power of the Supreme Court to decide whether a law is constitutional or not.

The process by which the President can reject a bill passed by Congress, preventing it from becoming law.

The right of states to govern themselves independently from the federal government. The Constitution aimed to balance this with the need for a stronger national government.

The ability of the national government to have supreme power over the states, as established by the Constitution.

The process where Congress can overturn a presidential veto by passing the bill again with a two-thirds majority vote in both the House and Senate.

A system where power is divided between the national government and state governments, ensuring balance and limited authority for each.

Powers explicitly granted to the federal government in the Constitution, such as declaring war, collecting taxes, and regulating trade.

The concept that the branches of government should work together and cooperate, rather than solely competing with each other.

Formal charges brought against the president by the House of Representatives, potentially leading to a trial in the Senate.

The Senate's role in trying an impeached president, with the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court presiding.

The power of the Senate to approve presidential appointments, including judges and ambassadors, and the ratification of treaties.

A compromise during the Constitutional Convention that determined how enslaved people would be counted for representation in Congress.

The Southern states wanted enslaved people to be fully counted for representation in Congress, increasing their political power. Northern states opposed this, arguing against representing interests they considered unjust.

The agreement to count 60% of enslaved people for purposes of calculating Congressional representation and federal taxation.

The South's stance that enslaved people should be counted for representation.

The North's opposition to counting enslaved people for representation, arguing against representing individuals who had no rights or agency.

The compromise that allowed Congress to impose taxes on imports but prohibited laws banning the importation of enslaved people for 20 years.

The Constitution's inclusion of clauses that protected the institution of slavery, despite many framers' disapproval.

The impact of the Three-Fifths Compromise on Southern states' representation in Congress.