Conflicts at the
Constitutional Convention
Big States v. Small States
North v. South
Large V. Small States (population, not size)
• The Large states thought that Equal Representation was unfair, and
that states with more people should have more votes.
• The Small states feared that the large states would have ALL the
control in Congress if representation was based on population.
Conflict #1
Virginia Plan
• Plan supported by the BIG states
• Proposed by James Madison and Edmond Randolph (both from
Virginia)
• Favored a BICAMERAL Congress (Bicameral means = 2 houses)
• A House of Representatives
• A Senate
• Wanted representation in both houses of Congress be based on
population.
Virginia Plan (3 Branch System)
Executive Branch
Legislative Branch
“Congress”
President
Judicial Branch
Court System
House of
Representatives –
based on Population
Senate– based on
Population
New Jersey Plan
• Supported by the SMALL states
• Proposed by William Paterson (from New Jersey)
• Favored a UNICAMERAL Congress (Unicameral means 1 house)
• Just 1 Congress
• Wanted EQUAL Representation in Congress no matter their
population/size. Proposed all states get one representative.
1 State = 1 Vote
New Jersey Plan (3 Branch System)
Executive Branch
Legislative Branch
“Congress”
President
Judicial Branch
Court System
Congress– based on
equal representation
Virginia Plan and New Jersey Plan
• Both plans called for a STRONG National Government
• Both plans called for a government with 3 branches
The Great Compromise
The Great Compromise solved the problem of Representation on Congress
• There would be a strong national government with three branches
• Executive
• Legislative
• Judicial
• The Legislative Branch or Congress would be broken down into 2 houses
• House of Representatives
• Senate
• House of Representatives would be based on POPULATION and had the
power to develop ALL bills (laws) dealing with taxes
• Senate would be EQUAL for all states. All states would get two
representatives in the Senate. The Senate had the power to accept, reject,
or make changes to tax bills.
The Great Compromise
Executive Branch
Legislative Branch
“Congress”
President
Judicial Branch
Court System
House of
Representatives –
based on Population
Senate– Equal (2 per
state)
The North v. South
• Had different views on
•
•
•
•
Economics
Relationship with England
Tariffs (taxes)
Slavery
Conflicts at the Constitutional Convention
North -vs- South
3/5 Compromise
• A slave is considered to be 3/5 a person for representation and taxing
issues.
• The North agreed to the “Fugitive Slave Clause,” which said that all
escaped slaves must be returned to their owner.
• The North and South agreed to the “Slave Trade Clause,” which said
that Congress could not forbid INTERNATIONAL slave trade until 1808
• The South agreed that Congress has the power to place tariffs (taxes)
on imported goods and can control trade between the states..