make this a rough draft. The delegates were in general agreement that the nation needed a stronger national government. How much stronger was a matter of great dispute. The greatest argument was in their discussion of the matter of the membership of the national legislature—the Congress. Delegates from the larger population states favored the Virginia Plan. It provided that the greater a state’s population, the greater its membership would be in Congress.
This would not do for the smaller population states, so they favored the New Jersey Plan. The New Jersey Plan proposed that each state be equally represented in Congress, regardless of population. Otherwise, states would not be truly equal.
This difference threatened the success of the convention, and most likely, the survival of the nation. Tempers flared, with some delegates threatening to go home. Benjamin Franklin suggested asking for God’s guidance through prayer, and Roger Sherman of Connecticut stepped forward with a possible compromise. A compromise involves each side giving in some of their positions in order to reach an agreement.
This Great Compromise, which solved the problem of congressional representation, saved the country. Under the terms of the Great Compromise, Congress would be bicameral (two houses) rather than unicameral (one house). One house, known as the House of Representatives, would be chosen by a vote of the people, with each state having a number of representatives based on its population. This pleased the larger population states like New York and Virginia.
The other house would be called the Senate, chosen by the legislature of each state. Each state would choose two senators, regardless of the population, making every state equal in the Senate. Furthermore, this equal representation of each state in the Senate is the one part of the Constitution that can never be changed, even by constitutional amendment. This compromise barely passed.
Another compromise resulted from the question of whether to count the slaves in determining a state’s representation in the House of Representatives. The southern states wanted them counted, because they had many slaves residing in their states. The northern states countered that the slaves had no voice in the southern states, so they needed no representation in Congress. Finally, they decided to count the slaves at the rate of three-fifths of a person. This Three-Fifths Compromise allowed the Constitution’s eventual passage.
Benjamin Franklin was pleased. He noted that he now knew that the painting on the wall behind George Washington was a rising sun, for the United States, and not a setting sun. Upon leaving the convention, Franklin was approached by a woman who asked him what kind of government they had given the nation. His answer: "A republic, if you can keep it."
The delegates at the convention were largely in agreement that the nation required a stronger national government, but there was considerable dispute regarding the extent of this strength. The most contentious issue revolved around the composition of the national legislature, known as the Congress. Delegates from states with larger populations, known as the Virginia Plan, advocated for representation in Congress based on a state's population.
However, this proposal did not sit well with delegates from smaller population states who supported the New Jersey Plan. The New Jersey Plan proposed that each state should have equal representation in Congress, irrespective of its population. The smaller states argued that this was necessary to ensure equality among states.
The disparity in opinions on this matter had the potential to jeopardize the success of the convention and the very existence of the nation. Tempers flared and some delegates even threatened to leave. In this heated atmosphere, Benjamin Franklin suggested seeking guidance from God through prayer. Roger Sherman of Connecticut stepped forward and proposed a potential compromise, which involved both sides compromising on their positions to reach an agreement.
This compromise, known as the Great Compromise, proved to be the savior of the country. It addressed the issue of congressional representation by establishing a bicameral legislature. One house, the House of Representatives, would be elected by the people, with each state's representation based on its population. This pleased the larger population states such as New York and Virginia.
The other house, the Senate, would be chosen by state legislatures, and each state would have two senators regardless of its population. This ensured equal representation for each state in the Senate. Importantly, this equal representation in the Senate is an unchangeable aspect of the Constitution, even by constitutional amendment. The Great Compromise barely passed.
Another compromise emerged from the question of whether slaves should be counted for determining each state's representation in the House of Representatives. Southern states, where slavery was prevalent, argued for the inclusion of slaves in the count, while northern states contended that slaves should not be counted as they had no voice or representation. Eventually, a compromise known as the Three-Fifths Compromise was reached, which counted slaves as three-fifths of a person for representation purposes. This compromise cleared the way for the eventual passage of the Constitution.
Benjamin Franklin, satisfied with the outcome, noticed that the painting on the wall behind George Washington depicted a rising sun, symbolizing the United States rather than a setting sun. As Franklin left the convention, a woman approached and asked him what kind of government they had created for the nation. Franklin replied, "A republic if you can keep it."
Rough Draft:
The delegates at the Constitutional Convention were generally in agreement that the nation needed a stronger national government. However, the extent of this strengthened government was a contentious matter. The main point of contention revolved around the composition of the national legislature, known as Congress.
Delegates from larger states, with larger populations, supported the Virginia Plan. This plan proposed that a state's representation in Congress should be based on its population. In other words, the greater a state's population, the more representatives it would have in Congress.
On the other hand, delegates from smaller states were in favor of the New Jersey Plan. This plan asserted that each state should be equally represented in Congress, regardless of its population. These smaller states believed that this was the only way to ensure that all states were treated as equals.
The disagreement over congressional representation posed a threat to the success of the convention and potentially to the survival of the nation itself. Tempers grew heated, and some delegates even threatened to leave. In an attempt to find a resolution, Benjamin Franklin suggested that the delegates seek guidance through prayer. Roger Sherman of Connecticut, stepping forward with a potential compromise, proposed the idea of each side giving in on some of their positions to reach an agreement.
This compromise, known as the Great Compromise, ultimately saved the country. It addressed the problem of congressional representation by establishing a bicameral legislature instead of a unicameral one. The House of Representatives, one of the houses, would be elected by the people, with each state's representation based on its population. This pleased the larger population states such as New York and Virginia. The other house, the Senate, would be selected by each state's legislature, with every state being given two senators irrespective of its population. This equality in representation within the Senate was deemed permanent and could not be changed, even through constitutional amendments. Though the Great Compromise barely passed, it was crucial in resolving the issue of representation.
Another compromise occurred in response to the question of whether slaves should be counted when determining a state's representation in the House of Representatives. Southern states, which had a substantial number of slaves, wanted them to be counted towards their representation. Conversely, northern states argued that since slaves had no voice or rights, they should not be granted representation in Congress. Ultimately, the delegates agreed to the Three-Fifths Compromise. This compromise entailed counting slaves as three-fifths of a person for the purpose of representation. This compromise was instrumental in enabling the eventual passage of the Constitution.
Upon leaving the convention, Benjamin Franklin expressed his satisfaction and optimism for the future of the United States. He noticed a painting on the wall behind George Washington depicting a rising sun, symbolizing the new nation, rather than a setting sun. As Franklin was leaving, he was approached by a woman who asked him what kind of government they had created for the nation. In response, Franklin coined the famous phrase, "A republic, if you can keep it," highlighting the importance of actively maintaining and preserving the newly established government.
Rough Draft:
During the Constitutional Convention, the delegates recognized the need for a stronger national government but disagreed on how much stronger it should be. The main point of contention was the composition of the national legislature, or Congress. Delegates from states with larger populations supported the Virginia Plan, which proposed that a state's representation in Congress should be based on its population.
However, smaller population states opposed this plan and favored the New Jersey Plan instead. The New Jersey Plan suggested that each state should have equal representation in Congress, regardless of population, to ensure equal treatment of all states. This disagreement threatened the success of the convention and potentially the survival of the nation.
The tensions grew, and some delegates even threatened to leave. In an attempt to find a solution, Benjamin Franklin proposed praying for divine guidance, and Roger Sherman of Connecticut introduced a possible compromise. A compromise involves both sides giving up some of their demands in order to reach an agreement.
This compromise, known as the Great Compromise, turned out to be pivotal in saving the country. It resolved the issue of congressional representation by proposing a bicameral (two-house) legislature instead of a unicameral (one-house) legislature. The House of Representatives would be elected by the people and its membership would be based on population, satisfying the larger states. On the other hand, the Senate would be composed of two senators from each state, regardless of population, ensuring equal representation for all states. This compromise, particularly the equal representation in the Senate, was deemed unchangeable, even by constitutional amendment.
Additionally, another compromise had to be made regarding the question of counting slaves in determining a state's representation in the House of Representatives. The southern states wanted slaves to be counted, as they had a significant slave population. The northern states, however, argued that slaves should not be counted since they had no voice in the southern states. Eventually, they agreed to count slaves as three-fifths of a person. This compromise, known as the Three-Fifths Compromise, was necessary for the Constitution to be eventually ratified.
Benjamin Franklin expressed his satisfaction with the outcome, recognizing that the United States was a rising nation rather than a declining one depicted by the painting of a rising sun behind George Washington. As the convention concluded, Franklin was approached by a woman asking about the kind of government they had established for the nation. He responded by saying, "A republic, if you can keep it."