Agreements of the Constitutional Convention

The Constitutional Convention was one of the most important events in the history of the United States. This was where the Founding Fathers came together to draft the Constitution, the cornerstone of American democracy. During this convention, many agreements were reached that helped shape the document we know today. In this article, we`ll explore some of the key agreements of the Constitutional Convention.

The Virginia Plan

The Virginia Plan was proposed by James Madison and served as the basis for much of the discussion and debate at the Constitutional Convention. It called for a bicameral legislature, with representation in both houses based on population. This would give larger states more power in Congress, which was a point of contention between the larger and smaller states.

The New Jersey Plan

The New Jersey Plan was proposed in response to the Virginia Plan. It called for a unicameral legislature, with each state having equal representation. This was more favorable to smaller states, but ultimately was not adopted.

The Great Compromise

The Great Compromise, also known as the Connecticut Compromise, was a landmark agreement that resolved the disagreement between the large and small states over representation in Congress. It created a bicameral legislature, with the House of Representatives based on population, and the Senate giving two senators to each state.

The Three-Fifths Compromise

The Three-Fifths Compromise was a contentious agreement that dealt with the issue of counting slaves in determining representation in Congress. It was decided that slaves would be counted as three-fifths of a person for the purposes of representation, giving the South greater power in Congress despite having a smaller free population.

The Electoral College

The Electoral College was established as a compromise between electing the President by popular vote and having Congress elect the President. Each state would have a number of electors equal to their representation in Congress, and these electors would cast their votes for President.

In conclusion, the agreements of the Constitutional Convention were crucial in shaping the document that laid the foundation for the United States. While many of these agreements were contentious and controversial, they were ultimately necessary for creating a system of government that could serve the needs of a diverse and growing nation.