The Constitutional Convention of 1787 was a momentous event in American history. Delegates from all 13 states gathered in Philadelphia to revise the existing Articles of Confederation, which were proving ineffective in governing the young nation. However, they ultimately decided to throw out the Articles and create a new constitution from scratch. This was no easy feat – the delegates had to navigate a sea of disagreements and compromises in order to create a document that would be acceptable to all.
The first major disagreement was over the structure of the government. Some delegates favored a strong central government, while others wanted to preserve the power of the individual states. Ultimately, they agreed on a federal system, in which power is divided between the national government and the states. The federal government was given specific powers, such as the power to regulate commerce and collect taxes, while the states retained all other powers.
Another major disagreement was over representation in Congress. The larger states argued that they should have more representatives, while the smaller states feared being overshadowed. The compromise that emerged was the Great Compromise, which created a bicameral legislature with equal representation in the Senate and representation based on population in the House of Representatives.
Slavery was also a contentious issue at the convention. Southern states wanted to protect their right to own slaves, while northern states wanted to abolish slavery altogether. The Three-Fifths Compromise was reached, which counted three-fifths of a state`s slave population for the purpose of determining representation in the House of Representatives and allocating taxes.
The Bill of Rights was added to the Constitution as a compromise to appease those who feared the new government would infringe on individual rights. These 10 amendments protect individual freedoms and limit the power of the government.
Overall, the Constitutional Convention agreements and compromises were essential in creating a document that could be ratified by all 13 states. The Constitution has endured for over 200 years and remains the supreme law of the land. Its legacy and impact on American society cannot be overstated.