The Great Compromise, also known as the Connecticut Compromise, effectively addressed a conflict between large and small states during the Constitutional Convention of 1787.
Large states favored the Virginia Plan, which proposed representation in Congress based on population, meaning that states with larger populations would have more representatives. In contrast, small states supported the New Jersey Plan, which called for equal representation for each state, regardless of size or population.
The Great Compromise reconciled these two positions by creating a bicameral legislature: the House of Representatives, with representation based on population, and the Senate, with each state having two senators, ensuring equal representation for all states. This compromise was crucial in allowing the Constitution to be ratified and is a foundational element of the current U.S. legislative system.