Compare And Contrast The Compromises Of The Constitution

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The Constitution ordered many compromises between opposing interests on representation, federalism, executive power, and slavery.

To begin with, small and large states made a compromise on the topic of representation. Small states, such as New Jersey, Connecticut, and Delaware rallied around the New Jersey Plan created by William Patterson because they did not want to be overwhelmed by Madison’s government and larger states. The plan was given to Congress and gave Congress the authority to tax and regulate commerce. This made it possible for America to maintain state sovereignty as well as state equality in Congress. Further, the great compromise originally gave each state only two senators and one vote. However, Elbridge Gerry suggested a Senate vote by individuals that was similar, yet more democratic. Therefore, the representation in Congress was solved with the Great Compromise. America now had a bicameral legislature consisting of the House of Representatives and the Senate.
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James Madison wanted a sovereign national government, while others wanted a specific delegation of powers. Due to this, the members of the Constitutional Convention began listing the powers that the government would have which gave the government limited authority. Madison would lose many more characteristics of his ideal government, but ended up winning in the end because of the Judiciary Act of 1789. This Act gave federal and state power over federal law, but also made federal power supreme. Federal power could appeal state decisions. This decision was made as many believed that tyranny and chaos would result out of the republicanism of state power. This is the idea that Article 1, Section 10 was based on. All in all, compromise between Madison and the other members of the Constitutional Convention was necessary in the topic of