The Great Compromise

The Great Compromise was an agreement that both large and small states reached during the Constitutional Convention of 1787 that in part defined the legislative structure and representation that each state would have under the United States Constitution.

Edmund Randolph and James Madison proposed the Virginia Plan. This plan outlined that the government should comprise of three branches. The three branches would serve a two-housed legislature. The population was to elect the members of the lower house and they, in turn, would elect representatives in the Upper House.

The New Jersey Plan by William Patterson, called for equal representation of each state like it was in the Articles of Confederation system but sought to increase Congress power. It called for a one-house legislature, equal representation of each state, and popular elections.

BUT A COMPROMISE WAS NEEDED

Roger Sherman suggested a plan that eventually turned out as the Great Compromise. His plan included a two-legislative form of government: the Senate and the House of Representatives.

guess where he was from

CONNECTICUT!

HOW DID THE COMPROMISE WORK?

For every 300,000 citizens, a state received one member to serve in the House of representative and two senators indipendently from the population.

The Great Compromis gave larger states representation in the lower house according to population, and the smaller states attained equal representation in the upper house.

the compromise balanced the needs of both the smaller states which wanted a unicameral legislature and the larger states that were rooting for a bicameral legislature, paving the way for constitutional development.

SOURCES

• https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/what-was-the-great-compromise.html
• https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/minute/A_Great_Compromise.htm
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Connecticut_Compromise