The Philadelphia Convention: Resolving Contentious Political Issues

Title: The Philadelphia Convention: Resolving Contentious Political Issues Introduction: The Philadelphia Convention, also known as the Constitutional Convention of 1787, was a pivotal event in American history that aimed to address the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation and establish a new framework for governance. This essay will explore how the convention resolved three contentious political issues: the representation of large and small states, slavery, and state sovereignty. To gain a comprehensive understanding, we will refer to the primary document that emerged from this convention, the United States Constitution. I. Representation of Large and Small States: The Issue: One of the most significant challenges at the Philadelphia Convention was reconciling the interests of large and small states regarding their representation in the new government. The Compromise: The Great Compromise, proposed by Connecticut’s Roger Sherman, resolved this issue by creating a bicameral legislature. The House of Representatives would be based on population, thereby granting larger states more representation, while the Senate would provide equal representation for each state. Primary Document Reference: Article I, Section 2 of the United States Constitution outlines the composition and apportionment of seats in the House of Representatives, embodying the principles of the Great Compromise. II. Slavery: The Issue: Slavery was a deeply divisive issue during the Philadelphia Convention, with conflicting interests between Northern states seeking to abolish slavery and Southern states reliant on slave labor. The Compromise: The Three-Fifths Compromise addressed this issue by determining that enslaved individuals would be counted as three-fifths of a person when calculating both representation and taxation. Primary Document Reference: Article I, Section 2, Clause 3 and Article I, Section 9, Clause 1 of the United States Constitution reflect the Three-Fifths Compromise’s impact on representation and taxation. III. State Sovereignty: The Issue: The debate surrounding state sovereignty revolved around the balance of power between the central government and individual states. The Compromise: The Tenth Amendment was included in the Bill of Rights to address concerns about state sovereignty. It states that powers not delegated to the federal government are reserved for the states or the people. Primary Document Reference: The Tenth Amendment to the United States Constitution explicitly acknowledges and protects state sovereignty. Conclusion: The Philadelphia Convention effectively addressed three contentious political issues that threatened to derail the creation of a new framework for governance. Through careful negotiation and compromise, the convention established mechanisms to represent both large and small states, address slavery concerns, and preserve state sovereignty. These resolutions were enshrined in the United States Constitution, ensuring a lasting legacy that has shaped American democracy for over two centuries.        

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