Explain The Great Compromise. Use the video above and the following questions to help with your response:

The Great Compromise, also known as the Connecticut Compromise, was named after the state of Connecticut, where it was proposed by delegates Roger Sherman and Oliver Ellsworth during the Constitutional Convention of 1787.

The compromise included a bicameral legislature, which meant that Congress would have two houses: the House of Representatives and the Senate. In the House of Representatives, representation would be based on the population of each state, benefiting larger states with more residents. In contrast, the Senate would give each state an equal representation of two senators, regardless of population size, which accommodated the concerns of smaller states.

This compromise was critical to the success of the Constitutional Convention because it helped to bridge the substantial divide between states with large populations and those with smaller populations. Without this agreement, the convention risked failure, as smaller states were unwilling to agree to a plan that would significantly diminish their influence in the national legislature.

The Great Compromise effectively addressed the concerns of both small and large states by ensuring that both population and state sovereignty were represented. Larger states were satisfied with the House of Representatives, while smaller states found reassurance in the equal representation in the Senate. This balance was essential for fostering cooperation among the states and facilitating the formation of a unified national government under the new Constitution.