The Great Compromise

The foundation of the American Constitution was established to form a stable government through conflict and compromise. The Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan combined formed The Great Compromise. Later, The Three-Fifths Compromise and The Commerce Compromise were also established. These all created a stable form of government.
The Virginia Plan was known as the big state plan, since they had a large population. This plan was dealing with the relationship between the central and state governments. Many of these delegates believed that there should be a completely new document to lead the country. So, they came up with a plan that was drafted by James Madison and presented by governor of Virginia, Edmund Randolph. The Virginia Plan

called for the federal government to be made up of the three branches; the judicial branch, legislative branch, and the executive branch. This plan showed the belief that the nation’s survival depended on federalism which, started debates. It made the legislative branch made up of two houses; which, makes it a bicameral legislature. In contrast, the New Jersey Plan was the small state plan. William Patterson had a plan the was different from the Virginia Plan. He believed that The Articles of Confederation should be revised. This plan kept the Confederation’s one-house legislature, with one vote for each state. Although in his plan he said that congress would set taxes and regulate trade-powers, which was not in The Articles of Confederation. Congress would elect a weak executive branch consisting of more than one person. Patterson argued that the convention should not deprive the smaller states of the equality they have under The Articles. These two plans together created The Great Compromise. The Great Compromise granted each state equal representation in the Upper House, not depending on their size. In the Lower House representation would be regarding on the population. Roger Sherman made this balance in the interests of the small and large states.
Next, The Three-Fifths Compromise was created since there was a debate regarding the state’s population to determine representation. The southern states believed that their slave population should count; however, the northern states did not agree to this. Therefore, The Three-Fifths Compromise was created. The Three-Fifths Compromise states that each enslaved person is counted as three-fifths of a free person for determining both taxation and representation.
Finally, The Commerce Compromise was created. States argued over the control of trade. Northern states believed that the national government should have power to regulate all trade with foreign nations and between states. Although, the southern states did not approve of this because their exports of rice, tobacco, and other products to European nations and other states. They were worrisome of tariffs, and it would hurt the sales of products that their southern economy depended upon. So, the delegates decided to levy tariffs of imports, but not exports. Now, planters were fearful that congress would use these tariffs to regulate slave trade. As a comprise, the slave trade was allowed to continue until 1807, and southern farmers were allowed to pursue runaway slaves over the state lines.
The Virginia Plan, New Jersey Plan, The Great Compromise, The Three-Fifths Compromise, and the Commerce Compromise all contributed to the stable government that was formed. The conflict and compromise formed a stable government which, caused the foundation of the American Constitution to be established.