Which of the following were tensions at the constitutional convention of 1787?
Question: Which of the following were tensions at the constitutional convention of 1787?
The following were some of the tensions at the Constitutional Convention of 1787:
- Representation: The delegates were divided over how to represent the states in the new government. The large states wanted to have more representation based on their population, while the small states wanted each state to have equal representation.
- Powers of the federal government: The delegates also disagreed about the powers that should be given to the federal government. Some delegates wanted a strong central government, while others wanted to limit the power of the federal government and give more power to the states.
- Slavery: The issue of slavery was also a major source of tension. The delegates from the Southern states wanted to protect slavery, while the delegates from the Northern states wanted to abolish it.
- The executive branch: The delegates disagreed about the structure of the executive branch. Some delegates wanted a strong president, while others wanted a weak president who would be elected by Congress.
- The judiciary: The delegates also disagreed about the structure of the judiciary. Some delegates wanted a strong Supreme Court, while others wanted a weak Supreme Court that would be appointed by Congress.
These tensions were eventually resolved through compromise, but they left a lasting impact on the Constitution. The Constitution is a document of compromise, and it reflects the different interests and concerns of the delegates to the Constitutional Convention.
Here are some additional details about each of these tensions:
- Representation: The large states, such as Virginia and Pennsylvania, argued that they should have more representation in Congress because they had a larger population. The small states, such as Delaware and Rhode Island, argued that each state should have equal representation regardless of its population. The compromise that was reached was the Great Compromise, which created a bicameral legislature with a House of Representatives based on population and a Senate with equal representation for each state.
- Powers of the federal government: The delegates who wanted a strong central government argued that the federal government should have the power to tax, regulate commerce, and raise an army. The delegates who wanted to limit the power of the federal government argued that the federal government should only have the powers that were specifically listed in the Constitution. The compromise that was reached was the Enumerated Powers Clause, which lists the powers that are granted to the federal government.
- Slavery: The delegates from the Southern states argued that slavery was a matter of property and that the federal government should not have the power to interfere with it. The delegates from the Northern states argued that slavery was immoral and that the federal government should have the power to abolish it. The compromise that was reached was the Three-Fifths Compromise, which counted each slave as three-fifths of a person for the purposes of representation and taxation.
- The executive branch: The delegates who wanted a strong president argued that the president should be elected by the people and should have the power to veto laws. The delegates who wanted a weak president argued that the president should be elected by Congress and should not have the power to veto laws. The compromise that was reached was the Electoral College, which elects the president.
- The judiciary: The delegates who wanted a strong Supreme Court argued that the Supreme Court should have the power to strike down laws that it found to be unconstitutional. The delegates who wanted a weak Supreme Court argued that the Supreme Court should only have the power to interpret laws. The compromise that was reached was the Judicial Review Clause, which gives the Supreme Court the power to strike down laws that it finds to be unconstitutional.
The tensions at the Constitutional Convention of 1787 were difficult to resolve, but the delegates were able to find compromises that allowed them to create a new government for the United States. The Constitution is a document of compromise, and it reflects the different interests and concerns of the delegates to the Constitutional Convention.
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