4 ms·
This is patently false. Small, slave free States existed during the authorship of the Constitution. They were afraid of being steamrolled by their larger northe
by gadflyinyoureye 4y ago
This is patently false. Small, slave free States existed during the authorship of the Constitution. They were afraid of being steamrolled by their larger northern neighbors just as much as the antebellum South. It was the carrot to bring such states into the new Constitutional union.
Did the slave States like this compromise, yes. Is that the only reason for it? No.
"To the framers themselves, Madison explained that the Senate would be a "necessary fence" against the "fickleness and passion" that tended to influence the attitudes of the general public and members of the House of Representatives." - https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/minute/Senate_Created.htm https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/minute/Senate_C...
- jeffbee 4y agoThe small states had obvious reasons to support the great compromise, but that's not the question. The question is why did Virginia agree to it, when they were more populous than half the other states combined, and therefore would have naturally wanted proportional representation, as indeed was the original Madison plan. And the reason is: slavery. It's completely central to the entire constitution, from the senate to the 3/5th "compromise" to the electoral college.
- selimthegrim 4y agoWe are post Baker vs Carr and 17th amendment now, can you really still give that argument?
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