Constitutional Convention Dbq

The Constitutional Convention was a political assembly that occurred between May and September of 1787 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and determined how America was going to be governed. Following the drastic failure of the Articles of Confederation, the Framers gathered, looking toward a new ideal: one with a stronger national government, which would unify the states as one sovereign country. Prompted by the outset of the majority of its proponents, the conference had unanimously concurred the creation of a constitution, which directed the new government. However, the drafting process of the composition was greatly debated, as economic differences between the states created many conflicts.

During the Convention, the North and South disputed

over the issues of tariffs and slavery. To begin with, the purpose of tariffs contrasted between the two factions. The northern states believed that tariffs were necessary for their businesses to prosper, as taxes on British goods would make those products cost more than similar ones in America, resulting in a higher likeliness of American goods to be bought instead. On the contrary, the South argued that tariffs unfairly favored the North, as they would increase the cost of European-manufactured goods for their own profit. Also, southerners feared that Great Britain might, in the same way, place taxes on the American agricultural products, which would make those goods much more difficult to sell overseas. Another argument between the North and the South was slavery. The economy of the South was predominantly agricultural, as they grew cash crops such as cotton, tobacco andindigo. Many southerners were financially dependent on slaves, as their cheap labor made their goods more profitable. Those from the North, however, did not necessarily rely on slavery economically, and believed it was morally corrupt, hence their objection (and attempt at abolishing slavery). Essentially, the North and South disagreed on the controversies of tariffs and slavery during the Convention.
Following the prolonged, intense debates of the Constitutional Convention, the Framers composed a Great Compromise over the issues of tariffs and slavery of the nation, which were therein implemented in the U.S.

Constitution, specifically in Article I, Sections II, VIII & IX, as well as in Article IV, Section IV. Firstly, the eighth section of the first article states the authority and responsibility of the national government to trade. In the said section of the composition, American framer James Madison penned, “The Congress shall have Power to lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts and excises, to pay the debts and provide for the common defence and general welfare… uniforms throughout the United States.” The issue of tariffs is resolved in the article section, in which Congress will have the power to lay and collect taxes and duties, as well as to regulate national and foreign commerce relative to the country. Withal the second and ninth sections of the first article, in addition to the second section of the fourth article, the fugitive clause, developed from the settled compromises of the Convention. In the ninth section of Article I, Congress was temporarily prevented from restricting slavery in the United States. In the said section, first clause, the Founding Fathers transcribed, “The Migration or Importation of such Persons as any of the States now existing… shall not be prohibited by the Congress prior to the Year one thousand eight hundred and eight.” Slavery was

a public predicament held unsteady by the north and south of the nation; the said except was a major inclusion derived from the Convention, as for it satisfied the demands of both sides of the country. The second section, third three-fifths clause, was an arrangement provided that in population levied taxes, slaves would be counted on a three-fifths basis for the determination of the amount of taxes the states would pay. Also, Article IV, Section II, known as the fugitive slave clause, required that all runaways “held to service or labour” shall be returned to their owners. Essentially, Article I, Sections VIII to IX (the beginning clauses), as well as the three-fifths and fugitive clauses, were parts of the Constitution that resulted from settled compromises over governmental disagreements during the Convention.
Today our country has been sculpted from past decisions of the Framers, such as over issues of slavery, tariffs and others controversies. To begin, without compromise, the Northern and Southern states would not have come to agreement on tariffs, taxes on goods and products imported from other nations. The Northern states believed that tariffs were necessary in order for their businesses to prosper. Tariffs on British goods made American products cheaper, making it more likely for Americans to purchase goods manufactured in America instead of foreign nations. While the Northern states were in favor of tariffs, Southern states argued that tariffs unfairly favored the Northern states. The Southern states believed that tariffs increased the cost of manufactured goods they purchased from other nations. Southerners feared that Britain would place tariffs on agricultural goods from the South, which would make agricultural products harder to sell in Europe. After debating our Framers concluded that Congress has the power to lay and collect taxes, imposts, and excises. Also, our Framers concluded that Congress has the power to regulate trade with foreign nations. Furthermore, without compromise, the Northern and Southern states would not have come to terms regarding the issue of slavery. The Northern states were opposed to slavery and put an end to the practice. While the Southern states were also opposed to slavery, many Southern farmers were financially dependent on slavery and wanted the practice to continue. Southerners believed that each state had the right to decide the issue for itself. Our Framers then concluded that the migration or importation of slaves were to be prohibited by Congress prior to the year of 1808. Clearly, our Framers made the best decision by compromising issues such as tariffs and slavery to satisfy both Northern and Southern states.
The slavery compromises written in the constitution have consequences that are found in modern day.

They can often be found in child labor laws. Although the compromise that stopped slave importation settled some differences, it did not do much to stop the oncoming expansion of slavery. For example, due to the loopholes in child labor laws in America, teenagers work in harsh tobacco fields, and adolescents are given the same conditions of that of the mid-1800s. Many kids working in these fields now have about as much nicotine in their systems as a regular smoker. The Framers thought that making this compromise would please everyone and eventually put an end to slavery. Instead, it skyrocketed after cotton became a booming product in 1808, and started a domino effect. As of 2013, the estimated number of slaves in the world was approximately ten to thirty million, and has increased in Haiti, West Africa, China and other places. Despite the varying definition of slavery in these countries, the aspect is unfailing to all who are enslaved. In brief, the slavery compromises did not stop slavery considerably, but rather prompted modern day

slavery.
In conclusion, the disagreements between the north and the south were settled through compromise namely by