Compromise was essential to the creation of the United States government, particularly during the Constitutional Convention of 1787. Two key examples illustrate this point:
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The Great Compromise (Connecticut Compromise): One of the main debates during the Constitutional Convention was how to structure the legislative branch. Larger states favored the Virginia Plan, which proposed representation based on population, while smaller states supported the New Jersey Plan, which called for equal representation for each state. The Great Compromise, proposed by Roger Sherman, combined these ideas by establishing a bicameral legislature. The House of Representatives would have representation based on population, satisfying larger states, while the Senate would have equal representation with two senators from each state, appeasing smaller states. This compromise was crucial for balancing the interests of states of varying sizes and facilitating broader support for the new Constitution.
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The Three-Fifths Compromise: Another significant issue was how to count enslaved people for purposes of representation and taxation. Southern states wanted to count slaves as part of their population to increase their representation in Congress, while Northern states opposed this, arguing that slaves should not be counted since they could not vote. The Three-Fifths Compromise emerged from these conflicting views, allowing states to count three-fifths of their enslaved population for both representation and taxation purposes. This compromise was pivotal in securing the support of Southern delegates who were concerned about their political power in the new government while also addressing Northern concerns.
These compromises exemplified the willingness of the founders to negotiate and find middle ground, ultimately enabling the formation of a functional and enduring government.