Explain two of the "Great debates" of the constitutional convention. How were they resolved? What impact did these resolutions have on the further...

There were
a number of contentious points at the Constitutional Convention that were settled in the
so-called Great Debates. One of the major sticking points was over the power and representation
afforded to small states and large ones. Many felt that congressional representation should be
determined based on population size. States with larger populations, such as Pennsylvania and
Virginia clearly favored this idea. However, representatives from smaller states, such as
Delaware and New Hampshire, were worried that this would mean that they could be easily
side-lined in Congress.

William Paterson, of New Jersey came up with a plan
in which each state would get an equal number of representatives regardless of size. This became
known as the New Jersey Plan. The larger states objected, saying that that would allow unfair
representation by giving undue weight to small populations. Their plan would create a
representative body based solely on population size. This was called the Virginia
Plan.

Roger Sherman of Connecticut came up with a compromise. He proposed
that both plans be combined to create a bicameral legislature in which one part (The House of
Representatives) would be based on population. The other part (The Senate) would give each state
equal representation. This is known as the Connecticut Plan or The Great Compromise. It is still
the current system today and functions to balance the needs of small and large states.

Another debate involved the issue of slavery. Already, there were strong anti-slavery
movements at work in the young nation. The Southern states, whose economy was largely dependent
on slavery, wanted to make sure that the institution of slavery would be protected. Southern
representatives argued for constitutional clauses that would protect the slave trade. There were
those, such as Luther Martin of Maryland who argued against slavery, saying that keeping people
in bondage was antithetical to the notions of freedom on which the country was founded. There
were many who agreed with him and a lively, and sometimes nasty debate ensued.

However, fearing that pushing too hard against slavery would result in the complete
loss of the Southern states, the anti-slave faction eventually gave up. In a compromise, they
kicked the can down the road. They agreed that no law limiting the slave trade would be passed
until 1808. By avoiding a conclusive agreement over the existence of slavery in the United
States, the delegates at the Constitutional Convention merely put the issue off for future
generations to rectify. This would result in nearly a century of debate and conflict that would
cumulate in the Civil War.