The Great Compromise, also known as the Connecticut Compromise, was reached during the Constitutional Convention of 1787 and addressed the contentious issue of representation in Congress, which was a major point of disagreement between the larger and smaller states.
Prior to the compromise, there were two primary proposals:
-
The Virginia Plan: This favored larger states and proposed that representation in both houses of Congress be based on population. This meant that states with larger populations would have more representatives, which was advantageous for them.
-
The New Jersey Plan: This favored smaller states and proposed that each state have an equal number of representatives, regardless of population. This was intended to ensure that smaller states would not be overshadowed by the larger ones.
The Great Compromise, proposed by Roger Sherman and Oliver Ellsworth, synthesized these two plans by establishing a bicameral legislature with two different modes of representation:
-
The House of Representatives: Representation would be based on population, which aligned with the Virginia Plan. This meant that states with larger populations would have more representatives.
-
The Senate: Each state would have two senators, regardless of population, which ensured that small states had equal representation in this chamber, reflecting the New Jersey Plan.
This compromise effectively balanced the interests of both large and small states, allowing for a federal legislative structure that could gain broader support and function effectively within the new United States federal system. It paved the way for the ratification of the Constitution by addressing the fundamental concerns over representation and power distribution among the states.
1 answer