The Great Compromise, also known as the Connecticut Compromise, resolved the conflicts between large and small states during the Constitutional Convention of 1787. The conflict arose from the two proposed plans for representation in the legislative branch. The Virginia Plan proposed a bicameral legislature, with representation based on population, favoring larger states. On the other hand, the New Jersey Plan proposed a unicameral legislature, with equal representation for each state, favoring smaller states.
To address this conflict, a compromise was reached where the legislature would consist of two branches: the House of Representatives and the Senate. The House of Representatives would have representation based on population, satisfying the larger states, while the Senate would have equal representation for each state, satisfying the smaller states.
The Three-Fifths Compromise dealt with the issue of how enslaved individuals would be counted for representation and taxation purposes. Some southern states wanted to count enslaved individuals as part of their population to gain more representation in the House of Representatives, while northern states disagreed.
The compromise stated that enslaved individuals would be counted as three-fifths of a person for both representation and taxation purposes. This compromise allowed southern states to boost their representation without giving full rights to enslaved individuals, who lacked political and legal protections.
In summary, the Great Compromise resolved the conflicts between large and small states by establishing a bicameral legislature with a mix of proportional and equal representation. The Three-Fifths Compromise resolved the issue of counting enslaved individuals for representation and taxation purposes by counting them as three-fifths of a person.
Summarize the conflicts and compromises of the Great Compromise and the Three-Fifths Compromise
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