| June
30th, 1787
A compromise
was reached yesterday (June 29th, 1787) in Philadelphia combining the
New Jersey Plan and the Virginia Plan. This has been a major conflict
for quite a while. The New Jersey Plan was debated for four days, but
the larger states rejected it. The Virginia Plan was debated for two
weeks. Many believe that the compromise that has been reached is a major
progression towards the unification of the States under a Federal System
and has solved the problem of state representation.
When it
appeared that the Constitutional Convention would break up the delegates
began to make compromises on important issues. The first thing that they
resolved was the problem of State Representation.
The smaller
states were in favor of The New Jersey Plan, which was proposed by
William Paterson. In many ways this plan resembled our current plan of
government, The Articles of Confederation. This plan proposed a
one-house national legislature with representatives selected by state
legislatures. Each state will be able to cast one vote. It also proposed
a supreme court appointed for life by the executive officers.
The Larger
states support the Virginia Plan. The Virginia Plan was proposed by
Edmund Randolph. The plan favored the interest of the larger states, the
smaller states feared that they would have no power. This plan proposed
three separate branches of government and a bicameral legislature where
representation will be based upon states population or money
contributions.
The Compromise
was submitted to the constitutional convention to break the deadlock
created by the New Jersey Plan and The Virginia Plan. The convention
decided, after months of debate, that the legislature will be bicameral,
meaning there will be two houses, one house will have equal
representation, while the other is based on population of the state.
After further argument, the delegates agreed to what is really a great
compromise also known as The Connecticut Compromise. It is known as The
Connecticut Compromise because Roger Sherman who has a large part in
this compromise is from Connecticut. Members in The House of
Representatives or the lower house will be appointed among the states
according to population and they will be elected by the people. In the
upper house or the Senate, all states will have an equal number of
representatives, which will be chosen by the state legislatures. The
House has the power to originate all bills for raising or spending
money. The Senate favors the smaller states. Now with two senators each,
every state has equal representation.
This Compromise
was proposed by Roger Sherman. If you would like to know more about the
man who may have saved the states, read on, to see his Biography.
Today's
Biography: Roger Sherman
Roger Sherman
is a very important man. This leader from New England was born in 1721
with humble origins. While on the farm he worked as a shoemaker and
cobbler. In 1743 he moved to New Milford, Connecticut. Here he was
employed as a surveyor, storekeeper, almanac compiler and lawyer. He
received an honorary masters degree in 1768. Sherman opposed the Stamp
Act and supported the Sons of Liberty. He signed the Declaration of
Independence and the Articles of Confederation. Roger went to the
Constitutional Convention to help devise what today's main story was
about, "The Great Compromise." |
