Why were the Great Compromise of 1787 and the Three-Fifths Compromise necessary?

Why is any compromise necessary? What specifically were involved in these compromises?

The Great Compromise of 1787: dividing Congress into two houses, the House of Representatives and the Senate.

The Three-Fifths Compromise: every five slaves in each state would count as three free persons for determining both representation and taxation.

But why were they necessary?

I think I understand why the Great Compromise of 1787 was necessary.

It was necessary because it gave the United States the framework of government that it has today, right? Without it, the United States may have never have developed.

I still don't understand why the Three-Fifths Compromise was necessary. It doesn't really seem like a compromise at all.

A compromise always involves two sides with different goals. What were the goals of each side in these disputes. If you can't find them in your text, Google each Compromise.

And keep in mind that the House representatives are based on population, giving big states more representation and thus more power. The Senate gives each state an equal voice in that chamber. Why was that considered desirable?

The three-fifths compromise is much more complicated and you should look it up and find out why. The articles are there. Ms. Sue and I don't have to write new ones just for you.

If you can't read your text materials, which I'm sure explain it, this should get you started:

http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&aq=&oq=three-fifths+compromise&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1T4VRHB_enUS648US649&q=three-fifths+compromise&gs_l=hp..0.0i131j0l4.0.0.0.8965...........0.mttR_hk9BaU

without them, the small States would have carried little weight in the new government.

No, Melissa. The states with small populations would have the same voice as the states with large populations. The original proposal gave each state the same representation.

good point