Call/WhatsApp/Text: +44 20 3289 5183

Question: Representation and slavery, including the slave trade, were major issues at the 1787 Constitutional Convention. How were these issues handled? What were the points of view that had to be compromised? What were the proposals called?

01 Nov 2022,8:39 PM

 

Representation and slavery, including the slave trade, were major issues at the 1787 Constitutional Convention. How were these issues handled? What were the points of view that had to be compromised? What were the proposals called?

Expert answer

 

At the Constitutional Convention in 1787, delegates from across the United States gathered to discuss and ratify the country's new Constitution. Among the many issues that had to be addressed was the question of slavery and the slave trade.

 

There were a variety of different views on these issues among the delegates. Some believed that slavery was an evil institution that needed to be abolished. Others thought that it was necessary for the economy and should be allowed to continue. Still others believed that it should be phased out gradually over time.

 

In order to reach a compromise, a series of proposals were put forth. The first was called the Three-Fifths Compromise, which stated that slaves would only be counted as three-fifths of a person for the purposes of representation in Congress. This compromise was necessary in order to get the support of southern states, who would not have ratified the Constitution otherwise.

 

The second proposal was called the fugitive slave clause, which stated that any slaves who escaped from one state to another would be returned to their owners. This clause was included in order to appease southern states and keep them from leaving the Union.

 

The third and final proposal related to slavery was called the ban on the importation of slaves after 1808. This was a concession to northern states, who wanted to see an end to the slave trade.

 

All of these proposals were necessary in order to get the Constitution ratified by all of the states. Without them, it is unlikely that the United States would exist as we know it today.

 

When the Constitutional Convention convened in Philadelphia in 1787, the issue of slavery was front and center. The delegates were tasked with finding a way to forge a more perfect union, and one of the most divisive issues was how to deal with slavery.

 

There were two main proposals on the table. The first, put forward by delegates from northern states, called for abolishing the slave trade and gradually phasing out slavery altogether. The second, proposed by delegates from southern states, called for maintaining the status quo.

 

In the end, a compromise was reached. The Constitution included a provision that banned the importation of slaves after 1808, and it also included a "three-fifths" clause that counted slaves as three-fifths of a person for the purpose of representation and taxation.

 

This compromise was not without its critics. Abolitionists decried the continuation of slavery, while southern delegates argued that it was a necessary evil. But in the end, the delegates were able to reach a consensus and produce a document that would serve as the blueprint for our nation.

When the Constitutional Convention convened in Philadelphia in 1787, the issue of slavery was front and center. The delegates were tasked with finding a way to forge a more perfect union, and one of the most divisive issues was how to deal with slavery.

 

There were two main proposals on the table. The first, put forward by delegates from northern states, called for abolishing the slave trade and gradually phasing out slavery altogether. The second, proposed by delegates from southern states, called for maintaining the status quo.

 

In the end, a compromise was reached. The Constitution included a provision that banned the importation of slaves after 1808, and it also included a "three-fifths" clause that counted slaves as three-fifths of a person for the purpose of representation and taxation.

 

This compromise was not without its critics. Abolitionists decried the continuation of slavery, while southern delegates argued that it was a necessary evil. But in the end, the delegates were able to reach a consensus and produce a document that would serve as the blueprint for our nation.

When the Constitutional Convention convened in Philadelphia in 1787, the issue of slavery was front and center. The delegates were tasked with finding a way to forge a more perfect union, and one of the most divisive issues was how to deal with slavery.

 

There were two main proposals on the table. The first, put forward by delegates from northern states, called for abolishing the slave trade and gradually phasing out slavery altogether. The second, proposed by delegates from southern states, called for maintaining the status quo.

 

In the end, a compromise was reached. The Constitution included a provision that banned the importation of slaves after 1808, and it also included a "three-fifths" clause that counted slaves as three-fifths of a person for the purpose of representation and taxation.

 

This compromise was not without its critics. Abolitionists decried the continuation of slavery, while southern delegates argued that it was a necessary evil. But in the end, the delegates were able to reach a consensus and produce a document that would serve as the blueprint for our nation.

When the Constitutional Convention convened in Philadelphia in 1787, the issue of slavery was front and center. The delegates were tasked with finding a way to forge a more perfect union, and one of the most divisive issues was how to deal with slavery.

 

There were two main proposals on the table. The first, put forward by delegates from northern states, called for abolishing the slave trade and gradually phasing out slavery altogether. The second, proposed by delegates from southern states, called for maintaining the status quo.

 

In the end, a compromise was reached. The Constitution included a provision that banned the importation of slaves after 1808, and it also included a "three-fifths" clause that counted slaves as three-fifths of a person for the purpose of representation and taxation.

 

This compromise was not without its critics. Abolitionists decried the continuation of slavery, while southern delegates argued that it was a necessary evil. But in the end, the delegates were able to reach a consensus and produce a document that would serve as the blueprint for our nation.

When the Constitutional Convention convened in Philadelphia in 1787, the issue of slavery was front and center. The delegates were tasked with finding a way to forge a more perfect union, and one of the most divisive issues was how to deal with slavery.

 

There were two main proposals on the table. The first, put forward by delegates from northern states, called for abolishing the slave trade and gradually phasing out slavery altogether. The second, proposed by delegates from southern states, called for maintaining the status quo.

 

In the end, a compromise was reached. The Constitution included a provision that banned the importation of slaves after 1808, and it also included a "three-fifths" clause that counted slaves as three-fifths of a person for the purpose of representation and taxation.

 

This compromise was not without its critics. Abolitionists decried the continuation of slavery, while southern delegates argued that it was a necessary evil. But in the end, the delegates were able to reach a consensus and produce a document that would serve as the blueprint for our nation.

The issue of representation was a major point of contention at the 1787 Constitutional Convention. The delegates from the large states wanted their states to have more representation in Congress, while the delegates from the small states wanted each state to have an equal number of representatives. In the end, a compromise was reached whereby each state would have two representatives in the Senate and a number of representatives in the House of Representatives based on population.

 

The issue of slavery was also a major point of contention at the Constitutional Convention. The delegates from the slave states wanted slaves to be counted as part of the population for purposes of representation, while the delegates from the non-slave states did not want slaves to be counted at all. In the end, a compromise was reached whereby slaves would be counted as three-fifths of a person for purposes of representation.

Stuck Looking For A Model Original Answer To This Or Any Other
Question?


Related Questions

What Clients Say About Us

WhatsApp us