The Constitution was a result of multiple
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legislations.
democracies.
compromises.
populations.
The Correct Answer and Explanation is :
The correct answer is “compromises.”
The United States Constitution was the product of numerous compromises made during the Constitutional Convention of 1787. Delegates from different states had varying opinions on the structure and powers of the federal government, and in order to reach consensus, several key compromises were made.
1. The Great Compromise (Connecticut Compromise)
One of the most critical compromises was between large and small states regarding representation in Congress. Larger states favored the Virginia Plan, which proposed representation based on population, while smaller states supported the New Jersey Plan, advocating for equal representation. The Great Compromise blended these two ideas by establishing a bicameral legislature with the Senate giving equal representation to each state (two senators per state) and the House of Representatives based on population.
2. The Three-Fifths Compromise
A contentious issue was how enslaved people would be counted for both taxation and representation. Southern states, with large enslaved populations, wanted enslaved people fully counted to boost their representation in the House, while Northern states opposed this. The Three-Fifths Compromise was reached, counting each enslaved person as three-fifths of a person for the purposes of representation and taxation.
3. The Commerce and Slave Trade Compromise
This compromise addressed the differing economic interests of the Northern and Southern states. Southern states feared federal control over trade would harm their agricultural economy, particularly the slave trade. The compromise allowed the federal government to regulate commerce but prohibited any laws banning the international slave trade for 20 years.
These and other compromises were essential for the creation of the Constitution. Without them, the diverse interests of the states would have made it impossible to draft a document that all could agree upon. The Constitution thus reflects a delicate balance of state and federal powers, individual rights, and regional interests.