Decision in Philadelphia

Who were the "landlocked" states?

"The "landlocked" states were those who insisted that the western lands be turned over to the national government, which would dispose of them for the benefit of the union as a whole. A few of these states were New Jersey, Maryland, and Delaware."

According to the Treaty of Paris, what was the western border of the U.S.?

"The Treaty of Paris, which ended the Revolution, set the western border of the United States at the Mississippi."

Madison claimed that the major difference in the country were North and South. Explain why.

Madison claimed that the major differences in the country were North and South because they were polar opposites. The North was Calvinist while the South was Anglican. In the North, single-family farms and local economies dominated the agricultural industry. The South had large families who farmed as a living and sold their crops. The North's cash crops were cod, wheat, livestock, and lumber. The South grew and sold tobacco, rice, and indigo. The North was dependent on the South for finished products, but the South needed the North for their ships. The Northerners had national money, but the South had notes and bonds issued by the states.

What did Gouverneur Morris rise and offer on the morning of July 12?

"Gouverneur Morris rose and offered a resolution providing that in the new government "taxation shall be in proportion to representation." That is to say, the more congressmen a state had, the more taxes they would pay."

Describe all the elements of the compromise reached at the end of the day.

"The compromise was carried: at the end of the day the Convention voted to tie taxation to representation, as Morris had suggested, with each slave to be counted as three-fifths of a person, and a census with mandatory reapportionment required of Congress every ten years. ... Thus, in exchange for tying taxation to representation, which it was assumed would throw the greater financial burden on the South when it became, as expected, the dominant power in governments, the North gave way on the three-fifths formula and on a mandatory census, which would force the Congress to give the South its majority when its population had increased sufficiently."

Why does Staughton Lynd believe the compromise to be more complex?

"There was a second compromise interlocked with the first; for the next day, July 13, back in New York, the old Congress passed the Northwest Ordinance, which settled the problem of the western lands north of the Ohio River. And remarkably enough, a Congress controlled at the moment by the South voted to exclude slavery from any future states in the Northwest Territory. It is Lynd's suggestion that a deal had been made and brought to Philadelphia by Hamilton and Cutler. The North, most significantly, got a prohibition of slavery in the Northwest Territory." The second main advantage for the North was "the agreement that the Northwest Territory would be divided into no more than five states, instead of the relatively large number suggested by earlier congressional committees."

What was the significant problem with the European land grants?

"When the Atlantic Coast of North America was colonized in the seventeenth century, there was in Europe no very accurate understanding of the geography of the New World." They also made "huge, frequently overlapping grants of land, described in loosely worded documents that made more sense in relation to the inadequate maps of the time than in relation to the land itself." Colonial borders remained vague until the end of the eighteenth century, and colonial governments fought over land claims because of this.

Describe the background and character of William Blount.

"William Blount of North Carolina was one of the most obscure delegates to the Convention. He was a curious figure to find in the company of the noble Washington, the honorable Madison, the sensible Sherman. He was a liar, a cheater, and a thief, and was the subject of the first impeachment trial ever held by the United States government. But Blount was a classic American figure— a man motivated solely by the love of money. He had no interest in enduring fame, no concern for status. Blount was descended from a line of lesser English nobility who could trace their ancestry back to the Norman Conquest. They came to North Carolina in 1664 and were aggressive and shrewd, becoming one of the major plantation owners. When William was born in 1749, they were a wealthy and respected family, members of the colony's ruling gentry. Growing up, because of his lack of an education, he only learned how to make money... William Blount had been in politics one way or another for most of his adult life, beginning in 1776, when he became paymaster for North Carolina's troops, and ending just before his death, in 1800, when he was Speaker of the Tennessee House. Masterson says that Blount "was a businessman in politics for business." His sole interest in serving in the state legislature, in Congress, as governor of Tennessee, was to see that matters were arranged to advance his own interests."

What was necessary to secure trading privileges from foreign nations?

A unified front was needed, instead of the individual states under the Articles who could not coordinate.

Explain the impact of the Northwest Ordinance.

Because of the Northwest Ordinance, it is impossible to guess at how widespread slavery would have become in the Northwest Territory had it been allowed there. The decision to bar slavery from the Northwest Territory would have the immediate effect of placating the abolitionists back home when it came time to ratify the Constitution. Because of this Ordinance, slavery was never truly experienced in the Northwest Territory, and that could have shaped the whole period of time surrounding Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation differently.

Explain the different interests held by the major importing states and their views on taxation.

Big importing states like Pennsylvania, New York, Virginia, and Massachusetts wanted to levy for themselves high import taxes, which can be collected from the consumers of other states. They were also not against taxing exports, for it was standard and more common than taxing imports because export taxes are passed on customers of other countries. However, the largest portion of export taxes would be from the products of the southern states. Lastly, the major importing states wanted trading privileges from other nations.

Describe the background of Charles Cotesworth Pinckney.

Charles Cotesworth Pinckney was born in Charleston to wealthy parents. They soon moved to England where he was educated at Oxford. He became a leading figure in South Carolina, but lost his estate when he was captured by the British in the Revolution. After the war, he served in various public offices and became well known in his state.

In what two ways did Connecticut abandon its former allies?

Connecticut abandoned its former allies by refusing to support national controls over exports, and on the slavery issue, too. Connecticut agreed to compromise on slavery against the wishes of its former allies, who were decidedly anti-slavery.

Describe the background of Ellsworth.

Ellsworth was a large man who attended the College of New Jersey with Luther Martin, Aaron Burr, William Paterson, and James Madison. He studied law, became a lawyer, and served in various public offices, including Congress. He almost always voted with Roger Sherman, but had a nasty temper.

Why were the western lands the country's greatest asset?

For one thing, the "whole vast western territory, both north and south, acted as a powerful magnet on people back east like the immigrants and landless sons that were attracted to the huge stretches of land across the mountains. Secondly, huge sums of money could be made from even small claims of land which dazzled men's eyes. The major reason why these lands were such a great asset is because they could be used to pay off the huge debt that had accrued during the Revolution. Also, with the selling of these pieces of land, people would be clamoring for statehood which would only grow this new country.

What did the South get?

For the South, slavery was to be permitted south of the Ohio River, they got their three-fifths formula, a measure that "sanctioned slavery more decidedly than any previous action at a national level." It also got a relatively low population requirement for admission of new states, which it wanted because it expected them to be southern in their politics. It got a mandatory census, which it wanted so that a Congress dominated by northerners, as it would be at the start, could not refuse to reapportion. And finally, it got clauses included in both the Constitution and the Ordinance that required the return of fugitive slaves escaped into the North.

What was the business that could be accomplished back in New York?

From the congressional Secretary Charles Thompson, the trio of southerners learned that if they came back to New York, Congress would have a quorum and could handle some important business. That business was the report of a committee on the Mississippi question. As it happened, a number of northern delegates were absent at the moment and the South would have a majority. It was an opportunity to kill the nefarious trade treaty with Spain and reaffirm American determination to gain rights to navigate the Mississippi and ship out of New Orleans, right that were so important to the ultimate value of the western lands. So William Blount and the others left, and in effect allowed Baldwin to defeat proportional representation."

Why did Mason refuse to sign the final Constitution?

George Mason of Virginia refused to sign the final draft of the Constitution because he was bitter about the end of his state's alliance with the New England states. The southern states had concluded an alliance with the New England states which prevented the congress from suppressing slavery.

Why didn't the northerners want a plethora of states to emerge in the Northwest territory?

Having only five states emerging from the Northwest Territory was something the northerners wanted because they feared that a plethora of new states would destroy their majority in the Senate, which they expected to be their counterweight against future southern majorities in the lower house, produced by the rising population in the South.

What did William Johnson have to say on the matter of counting blacks?

He proposed that blacks be counted as people, like whites, at 100 percent, a clear manifestation of the Connecticut- South Carolina alliance. But there was no likelihood that a majority of northern delegates would accept this idea. The northerners had gone along with the mandatory reapportionment.

What was Morris's argument against slavery?

He was very extreme, stating that slavery was a curse of Heaven, and described that slaves were taken against the laws of humanity and put in bondages. Yet, they had more votes in a government than citizens of New Jersey, for example. In addition, he stated that the northern states were going to be taxed to pay for the defense of the South against insurrections. Also, Morris said that the South would not be able to make its living if the national government could not tax exports.

For which side is this issue more critical?

It was more critical for the North to establish a national government that could manage trade.

Who proposed the inclusion of other persons in the three-fifths proportion?

James Wilson proposed that "three-fifths of all other persons not comprehended in the foregoing description" should be counted in the proportion.

Who is John Rutledge?

John Rutledge studied law and entered into politics at an early age through family connections. He held various positions in public office in the state of South Carolina and preferred to manipulate others behind the scenes rather than be the center of attention himself. He was the one with whom Roger Sherman presumably concluded the Connecticut-South Carolina alliance.

Describe the background of Johnson.

Johnson was born into an aristocratic family. His father was prominent in the Anglican Church. Johnson studied law and served on the Connecticut bar. He studied in England, but was a firm Loyalist and supported his mother country. He remained neutral during the course of the Revolution.

What made Morris uneasy?

Morris was uneasy because the plan presented to the convention on the compromise of proportional representation was unsuitable to him. He believed that representation should be based on wealth as well as population because wealthy men should have a larger say in government than the poor.

Is there any proof that the actions of the Convention in Philadelphia acted in concert with the actions of Congress in New York?

No, there is no hard-and fast proof, but there are many speculations. For one thing, there is uncharacteristic willingness of southern congressmen to prohibit slavery in the Northwest. Secondly, James Madison's secretary, Edward Coles, said, "The distracting question of slavery was agitating and retarding the labors of both [Convention and Congress], and led to conferences and intercommunications of the members, which resulted in a compromise by which the northern or anti-slavery portion of the country agreed to incorporate, into the Ordinance and Constitution, the provision to restore fugitive slaves." Thirdly, over a quarter of the delegates to the Convention were also congressmen. These men could not only find out what was going on in both bodies but also act as go-betweens, and perhaps most important, influence the proceedings in either. The otherwise unexplained arrival of Cutler and Hamilton in Philadelphia at so critical a moment is certainly suggestive. Finally, Morris's swift shift of position suggests that something had been worked out overnight.

Explain the connection between the navigation acts deal and the fugitive slave clause.

On August 29, the fugitive slave clause was written in the Constitution in order to allow simple majorities in the passage of navigation acts, instead of the attempted ⅔ majority.

What happened on July 12?

On July 12, the Convention reversed its decision from the previous day, in which the states agreed not to count slaves in the population when determining proportional representation.

Who raised the issue of whether slaves were people or property on June 11?

Roger Sherman raised the issue of whether to consider slaves as people or property on June 11.

Who brought the issue of the admission of slaves to the forefront?

Rufus King of Massachusetts brought the issue to the forefront. He stated that either slaves should not be represented or exports should be taxable. As the slave population rose, there would be more danger of insurrections, and foreign nations would take advantage of this. The Northerners would have to help defend the southerners, so King stated that southern exports should be taxed to help pay for the defense. He could not agree for slaves to be imported without limitations and then be represented.

What was slavery in America like?

Slavery in America was the worst the world has ever known. Slaves were taken from Africa on ships, in which they lived in miserable conditions. Some few gained freedom in America, but most lived in slavery on plantations, enduring long hours of hard work

Why did Connecticut choose to make an alliance with South Carolina?

South Carolina was chosen for the alliance with Connecticut because both states relied on export trade as a critical part of their economies. South Carolina exported rice and indigo and Connecticut exported livestock, lumber, and foodstuffs.

Do the Colliers believe that the North could have dealt with slavery in a stricter manner?

The Colliers believe that the North could have dealt with slavery in a stricter manner. This is because the Deep South was in poor condition- Georgia was defenseless against Spanish and Indians, and North Carolina succumbed to the British quickly. The Deep South states may not have survived long in isolation with their enemies (northern states, foreign nations, and their own slaves). So, the northern states could have played on these fears to force stricter limits on slavery in the Constitution. For example, the North might have been able to secure prohibitions against slavery in any new states, and fight the fugitive slave clause.

Do the Colliers think that the constitution could have resolved to abolish slavery?

The Colliers certainly did not believe the constitution could have abolished slavery. To begin, sadly no delegate was advocating immediate abolition. The delegates of the Deep South and Virginia would have never ratified a constitution that called for abolition. In addition, New York and Rhode Island would have used the defection of the southern states as a reason for not joining the delegates. Clearly, if the abolition of slavery was advocated for, the Colliers believe there would be no constitution.

What did the Committee of Detail do?

The Committee of Detail had the responsibility of going through the resolutions passed by Congress and place order to them by tying loose ends and contradictions. However, the loose ends were very loose, and touched on matters of importance, so the Committee had to make important decisions and write a draft.

Explain the dispute between the North and South over the Mississippi.

The North felt that it would be beneficial for them to abandon to Spain the right to navigate the Mississippi, in exchange for a commercial treaty. Northerners were afraid that the opening of the West would draw away their population, reducing real-estate values and diminishing markets for their goods. Closing off the Mississippi would slow the movement west, and a trade agreement with Spain would open up Caribbean markets for their ships. On the other hand, the Southerners were aghast. "the value of the huge western portions of their states depended to a great extent on access to the Mississippi, in order to move their goods to market." Then, Virginian James Monroe accused eastern congressmen of trying to break up the western settlements, prevent any new ones, and thus, "throw the weight of the population eastwards and keep it there."

How did the prohibition of the export taxes carry?

The South voted as a bloc for not permitting it, and Virginia voted with them (despite Washington and Madison's opposition). Massachusetts and Connecticut voted with the South as well. Thus, the prohibition was carried.

What was the basis for northern opposition to slavery?

The basis of northern opposition to slavery was that although it was immoral and reprehensible, Africans were not welcome in society. Many believed that slavery would disappear because many states had passed laws against and it was a dying institution.

Explain the final lesson of Chapter 16.

The final lesson is that institutions are not easily changed. For example, the South expected it would soon be dominant over the North, and the North thought slavery would die out eventually.

What kind of government do the major trading states want?

The major trading states wanted a government with substantial powers to regulate foreign trade and negotiate trade treaties.

Why was there such contention in deciding the number of representatives in the lower house?

The number of representatives to the lower house was so contested because some believed that wealth ought not to be counted at all, but some thought that slaves should not be counted as wealth because the South could increase its representation by bringing in more slaves. The North was opposed to prolonging slavery and wanted to gain a majority in the new government to prevent the South from doing so. The main point of contention was that the convention would be establishing a government dominated by the North, which would have the means to hold on to their majority indefinitely. This would create an unequal government in which the North controlled the South. This South was willing to let the North start with a majority because they assumed that their states would become more populous and they would gain a majority in the lower house.

Which states maintained an interest in the slave trade and why?

The only slaves interested in the slave trade were the three Deep South states: North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. The reason for these states' interest in slavery was its importance in the cotton trade.

What question has troubled the country most?

The question of racial antagonism has troubled the country the most.

How was the question of whether slaves were people or property dealt with prior to this convention?

The question of whether slaves were people or property had been dealt with prior to the convention by agreeing that slaves would be counted as three-fifths of a person.

For how long would the slave trade continue?

The slave trade would continue until 1808, when it was finally prohibited.

Why did the slavery question run into everything?

The slavery question ran into everything because the issue of proportional representation also included whether or not slaves would be counted. It was also debated whether slaves would be taxed as wealth, whether newly arrived slaves would be taxed as imports, and whether slaves were people or property.

How did the southern states view trade and the role of the national government in that trade?

The southern states wanted the government to be limited in some ways in respect to trade, because the North would have an initial majority in both houses of Congress. They feared that the government with power to regulate commerce might put export taxes on vital southern products. Also, southerners feared that a national government would require them to use American bottoms, giving northerners a monopoly on shipping.

How would imported slaves be taxed?

The tax was ten dollars for each imported slave.

Why was the Committee of Detail's report seen as Southern victory?

There would be no export taxes on rice and indigo, the slave trade could not be ended, no taxes on slaves, and a two-thirds requirement for passage of navigation acts favorable for the South. This Committee was able to give the South everything they desired because the committee was comprised of people in defense of slavery except Gorham.

Why did three southerners leave the Convention just before the critical vote on the upper house representation?

These three southerners had something more important to do in New York.

Why did the seemingly resolute South give in a little on the issue of the slave trade?

They realized that slave importation would revolt the Quakers, Methodists, and others in states with no slaves. Thus, some northern states would refuse to ratify a Constitution that did not touch the slave trade. So, the Southerners backed off a bit. They gave in by creating a new Committee to consider if new slaves coming into the country should be taxed like other goods. This resulted in the Committee of Eleven who decided that imported slaves could be taxed, exports could not be taxed, navigation acts had to have simple majority, and Congress could prohibit importation of slaves after 1800.