What was the Great Compromise about?
The Great Compromise, also known as the Connecticut Compromise, was a compromise reached during the Constitutional Convention of 1787 in the United States. It aimed to resolve the debate between the larger and smaller states over representation in the legislative branch of the government.
The larger states, such as Virginia, proposed a plan known as the Virginia Plan, which advocated for representation in the legislative branch to be based on each state's population. On the other hand, the smaller states, like New Jersey, proposed a plan called the New Jersey Plan, which suggested that each state should have equal representation in the legislative branch, regardless of population.
The Great Compromise, proposed by Roger Sherman of Connecticut, resolved this disagreement. It established a bicameral legislature, consisting of two chambers: the Senate and the House of Representatives. In the Senate, each state would have equal representation with two senators per state. In the House of Representatives, representation would be based on each state's population. This compromise satisfied both the larger and smaller states and played a crucial role in the creation of the United States Constitution.