Question

In a 8th graders response. In a paragraph, analyze the Great Compromise during the Constitutional Convention. What problem did it solve? What were the alternatives?
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Answer 1

The Great Compromise, also known as the Connecticut Compromise, was a crucial agreement made during the Constitutional Convention in 1787. It resolved the dispute between larger states, which wanted representation based on population, and smaller states, which wanted equal representation regardless of size. The compromise created a bicameral legislature with two houses: the House of Representatives, where representation is based on population, and the Senate, where every state has two senators regardless of its size. This solution helped unify the states by ensuring that both their population size and state equality were considered in the legislative process. An alternative proposal, known as the Virginia Plan, favored larger states by suggesting representation based solely on population, while the New Jersey Plan supported smaller states by advocating for equal representation. The Great Compromise successfully balanced the interests of both groups and laid the foundation for the legislative structure we have today.