What were the opposing points of view that made the Great Compromise necessary?

Answer 1

The Great Compromise was necessary because the states were divided into two opposing viewpoints regarding the structure of the legislative branch in the proposed United States Constitution.

The first opposing viewpoint was known as the Virginia Plan, which was favored by the larger states. The Virginia Plan proposed a bicameral legislature based on population, where the number of representatives in both houses of Congress would be proportional to the population of each state. This system heavily favored the larger states as they would have more representatives and thus more influence over legislation.

The second opposing viewpoint was known as the New Jersey Plan, which was favored by the smaller states. The New Jersey Plan proposed a unicameral legislature, where every state would have an equal number of representatives, regardless of population. This system protected the interests of smaller states, as they would have the same level of representation as larger states.

These two opposing viewpoints created a deadlock and threatened to derail the entire Constitutional Convention. The smaller states feared that the larger states would dominate the legislature and ignore their interests, while the larger states argued that the smaller states would have an unfair advantage with equal representation. As a result, the Great Compromise was necessary to find a middle ground and establish a compromise that satisfied both sides. The compromise created a bicameral legislature, with the House of Representatives based on population (favoring the larger states) and the Senate with equal representation for each state (favoring the smaller states). This compromise helped ensure the ratification of the Constitution and the formation of the United States government.