Constitutional Convention

Smaller states like Connecticut, Rhode Island, and New Jersey wanted to keep the articles, because they knew that the big states would have all the population and clout if there was to be a national government. They did not want to lose their sovereignty. The south did not want a national government, because they felt that a national government would challenge their livelihood involving slavery.

They could not agree on the Legislature.

Small states wanted equal representation.

Large states wanted representation based on population.

It was determine that there would be two houses in Congress a House and a Senate.

The House would population based to favor large states, and the Senate would be 2 equal representatives to favor small states.

The northern states mostly because of religion disagree on slavery, and want slavery abolished. The southern states want to keep slaves and have them count for the population of the house of representatives.

The South agrees to have the slave trade abolished in 1808.

The North agrees to let slaves count as 3/5's a person for the population based legislature of the House.

Our government had to compromise in order to form, and in order to function. Given the state of affairs currently do you see much in the way of compromise. Could you do better?