How did The Great Compromise settle the problem of representation in Congress?
The Great Compromise, also known as the Connecticut Compromise, was a solution proposed by Roger Sherman and Oliver Ellsworth at the Constitutional Convention of 1787. It resolved the issue of representation in Congress by creating a bicameral legislature consisting of two houses:
1. The House of Representatives: The representation in this house would be based on each state's population. The larger the population of a state, the greater number of representatives it would have in the House. This satisfied the larger states' demand for proportional representation.
2. The Senate: Each state would have an equal number of representatives, regardless of its size or population. In the Senate, every state, regardless of size, would have two senators. This pleased the smaller states, who were concerned about being overshadowed by larger states.
By combining these two elements, the Great Compromise struck a balance between the competing interests of both large and small states, resolving the problem of representation in Congress. This compromise established a fair and effective system of government that has remained in place to this day.