The Expert Concessions Made by the Founding Fathers in Drafting the U.S. Constitution

As the summer of 1787 approached, the delegates to the Constitutional Convention gathered in Philadelphia with a monumental task before them. It was their job to draft a document that would replace the Articles of Confederation and create a framework for a more unified and effective government for the newly independent United States. The debates that ensued were often heated, with differing opinions on matters such as representation, the role of the President, and the powers of the central government.

Compromises and Compromisers

One of the most interesting aspects of the Constitutional Convention was the degree to which compromise was created between groups that held sometimes widely divergent views. Delegates from larger, more prosperous states, such as Virginia and Massachusetts, felt that representation in the new government should be proportional to population and/or wealth. Smaller states, on the other hand, favored equal representation, fearing that the larger states would dominate them. This led to the development of one of the most enduring features of the U.S. government: the bicameral structure of Congress, often called the Connecticut Compromise.

The bicameral structure includes the House of Representatives and the Senate. The House was designed to be more directly responsive to the will of the people, with representatives elected from congressional districts based on population. The Senate, on the other hand, was intended to represent the interests of the states as political entities, with two senators from each state regardless of population.

Modifying the Ideals of Popular Sovereignty

The electoral college was another contentious issue that required compromise. Some delegates wanted to give the people a direct say in the election of the President, while others feared that allowing every voter to participate would lead to a government dominated by short-sighted populism. To find a middle ground, a modified system was created: the electoral college. This system would allow the states to appoint electors who would then meet and cast votes for the President and Vice President, effectively serving as a buffer between the people and the presidency.

Defining the Role of the President

There was also considerable debate over the role of the President. Some people were content to make the President a figurehead, akin to a king in all but name. Others, particularly those from smaller states, wanted a President who was fully subservient to Congress and who would have more limited powers.

For a more detailed breakdown of specific views held by individual delegates, I highly recommend the book Plain Honest Men: The Making of the American Constitution by Richard Beeman. This book provides an in-depth look at the personalities and beliefs of the delegates, as well as the complex negotiations that led to the final version of the Constitution.

The Constitution that emerged from the convention was a testament to the ingenuity and pragmatism of the Founding Fathers. They understood that a perfect solution was rarely possible, and that compromise was often the path to creating a document that would endure for generations.

The United States has faced many challenges since the founding of the nation, but the Constitution, with its complex system of checks and balances, has proven to be a reliable foundation. The compromises that were made during the Constitutional Convention have ensured that power is distributed in a way that reflects the diversity of American society, and that the government can adapt to changing circumstances while remaining firmly rooted in the principles of democracy and liberty.