what was the purpose of the Great Compromise? What did it say about representation in Congress?

1 answer

The purpose of the Great Compromise, also known as the Connecticut Compromise, was to resolve the issue of representation in Congress. It was proposed during the Constitutional Convention of 1787 as a solution to the contentious debate between large and small states.

The Great Compromise established a bicameral legislature with two separate chambers: the House of Representatives and the Senate. The House of Representatives would have representation based on the population of each state, while the Senate would have equal representation with two senators per state.

This compromise struck a balance between the demands of larger states, who wanted representation based on population, and smaller states, who feared they would be overshadowed by their more populous counterparts. It showed that representation in Congress would be a mix of both proportional representation and equal representation, thereby satisfying the concerns of both large and small states.