what was the great compromise

The Great Compromise, also known as the Connecticut Compromise, was a plan proposed during the Constitutional Convention of 1787 in the United States. It was created to address the issue of representation in the new federal government.

At the time, there was a significant disagreement between states with small populations (such as New Jersey) and states with large populations (such as Virginia) regarding how representation should be determined. The small states feared that they would have little influence in a government dominated by the larger states.

The Great Compromise proposed a bicameral legislature, consisting of two separate chambers: the House of Representatives and the Senate. In the House of Representatives, representation would be based on the population of each state, favoring the larger states. In contrast, the Senate would provide equal representation for all states, regardless of size, with each state having two senators.

This compromise was crucial in resolving the issue of representation and ensuring both the small and large states had a voice in the legislative process. It played a significant role in the final drafting and ratification of the United States Constitution.