Bradley
16
A Summer Hot With Compromise
In the hot summer of 1787, a constitutional convention was called,
All states sent delegates, except Rhode Island, for they were appalled.
For representation in congress would be changed,
And losing their power to large states they thought would be arranged.
Independence Hall, Philadelphia was where fifty-five delegates sat down.
In hope that a solution could possibly be found.
The room was filled with men of property and wealth;
The large meeting was decided to be conducted in stealth.
The boarded-up windows trapped in all the heat;
With Summer in swing, wigs and suits no longer looked neat.
Thomas Jefferson and John Adams were away overseas,
While others, like Patrick Henry, refused to be nominees.
George Washington was unanimously voted president of the convention;
His attitude and demeanor commanded everyone’s attention.
Edmund Randolph, the first speaker, proposed a new Plan,
“The Virginia Plan!” He called it, and to explain he began.
The Virginia Plan would have a government that branch into three,
The first was legislature, which made laws for the people, who would remain free.
The second, the executive, ensured the laws be carried out
Elected by college, the president would lead with most clout.
The third was judiciary, would interpret the laws,
And scrutinize them to their most minute flaws.
The plan would have two houses, a Senate and a House of Representation,
Both were to be represented by population.
This led the small states to head the debate,
Because having less votes, they fear their voice would abate.
And then one day, William Patterson introduced something new,
The delegate introduced a plan to shake small states out of their blues.
“Only one house!” was called for in the Plan of New Jersey,
and at this point, the delegates could not afford to be choosey.
The new Jersey plan gave one vote per state,
Keeping all states equal no matter the birth rate.
The plan also gave the states much more power.
The federalist delegates took to this sour.
Heated debates followed for the fifty-five sweaty men,
Hoping to leave the swamp of Philadelphia, Penn.
On June 19, The Virginia plan won the vote,
but unfortunately for everyone this was not a high note.
Arguing and bickering, there was much to be heard.
But from a special committee, a compromise was conferred.
The Great Compromise, satisfied both sides,
Equal representation in the senate would appeal the small states divides.
But population in the house would make large states satisfied.
Everyone was happy on June 16, 1789 when the constitution was ratified.
