Constitutional Compromises

During the Constitutional Convention, William Paterson, in response to the Virginia Plan, presented the delegates with the New Jersey Plan which -

• proposed a bi-cameral legislative branch with representation based on the population of each state

• called for the same one vote per state representation as under the Articles of Confederation

• allowed the Southern states to continue the practie of slavery while the nothern states built factories

• designated that each slave would count at three-fifths of a person for the purpose of determining representation

One of the major issues debated at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia was -

• proposing a new strategy to proceed with the abolition of slavery

• creating a plan for representation of both large and small states

• whether or not to remain neutral in the French Revolution

• if Missouri should be allowed to join the country as a free state

Which plan called for representation based on the states' population, benefited the small states?

• Treaty of Ghent

• Fugitive Slave Act

• Articles of Confederation

• New Jersey Plan

"Among the most formidable of the obstacles which the new Constitution will have to encounter may readily be distinguished the obvious interest of a certain class of men in every State to resist all changes which my hazard a diminution of the power, emolument, and consequence of the offices they hold under the State establishments;" - Alexander Hamilton

Which of the following best explains the point of view in the quote above?

• problems would erupt because under the new government states are giving up their powers

• under a new government the federal government will have all the control over the legislative branch

• according to the Constitution the state governments would share power with the federal government

• Conflicts would arise over the organization of the judicial branch of the new government

Anti-Federalist, such as George Mason, refused to ratify the new Constitution, but after much debate they agreed to approve it with the addition of the -

• Declaration of Independence

• Bill of Rights

• Emancipation Proclamation

• Declaration of Sentiments

How was the conflict between large and small states resolved?

• Three branches of the national government were formed.

• A federal court system was established.

• The House of Representatives and Senate were created.

• A cabinet was formed to advise the President.

Which is the best summary of the "Three-Fifths Compromise?"

• Congress was given two houses.

• A line was drawn dividing future free and slave states.

• Each slave was counted as less that one free person.

• A tougher runaway slave law was enacted.

The Great Compromise was a compromise between--

• Massachusetts Plan and New Jersey Plan

• Virginia Plan and New Jersey Plan

• Virginia Plan and New York Plan

• Virginia Plan and Delaware Plan

What did the southern states want?

• To get rid of the slaves in the north

• Slaves to not count as population

• Slaves to become free

• Slaves to count as population

What did the northern states want?

• Slaves to count towards the state’s population

• To have more slaves

• Slaves to not count towards the state’s population

• For each slave to count for two votes