Question

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You have been asked to write a short announcement to inform your community about the Great Compromise. Summarize the key points of the agreement. Include any other details you think are important.

Answer 1

Good afternoon everyone,

I am here to communicate to you that a compromise has been reached. In fact, a "Great Compromise." This is the Connecticut Compromise, and it is likely to have enormous consequences to life in this country. I will explain to you what the most important points of this compromise are.

This compromise will, from now on, define the legislative structure and representation that each state will have under the country's Constitution. This will be important for large and small states alike. You will be happy to know that we will retain the bicameral legislature that was previously proposed, alomg with proportional representation of the states in the lower house. However, we will also require the upper house to be weighted equally among the states. Finally, you should know that each state will have two representatives in the upper house.

I am sure you are happy to hear these news and you are all looking forward to the future of the country as it operates under this system. Thank you.

Answer 2

he Connecticut Compromise of 1787, later known as the Great Compromise, was struck in the creation of legislative bodies. It joined the Virginia Plan, which favored representation based on population, and the New Jersey plan, which featured each state being equal. Roger Sherman, from Connecticut, played a large role in constructing the compromise.

At the time of the Convention, every state but Pennsylvania had a bicameral legislature. Thus, there was already a strong consensus for a two-house national legislature, with the only argument being apportionment of the upper house.

Delegates from small states did propose a New Jersey Plan that would have a unicameral legislature, but this plan was proposed only after the states had agreed on June 11th 6-5 to have a Senate with proportional representation.

At the Constitutional Convention, the leaders of the proportional representation group included James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, James Wilson, Edmund Randolph. Proponents of small state representation were representatives from small states, such as Gunning Bedford, Jr. of Delaware and William Patterson of New Jersey. Small state delegates claimed that they would be overwhelmed in a Senate with proportional representation. They said that the three largest states could outvote the rest of the country. Small states said that they would lose their liberty if they were outvoted by their more populous neighbors.

Several arguments for state equality were clearly self-interested.

Gunning Bedford, Jr. of Delaware admitted such openly. "Can it be expected that the small states will act from pure disinterestedness? Are we to act with greater purity than the rest of mankind?" (Sizing Up the Senate, 33)

At some points small state delegates even gave up arguments on fairness, and threatened to ally themselves with foreign princes. Gunning Bedford, Jr. of Delaware declared that if the Senate did not have equality, "the small [states] w[ould] find some foreign ally of more honor and good faith, who will take them by the hand and do them justice." (New Republic, August 7th, 2002)

Finally, the large state delegates gave in. Delegates from North Carolina and Massachusetts switched their votes from proportional representation to equality. On the final vote, the five states that favored equal apportionment in the Senate--Delaware, North Carolina, Maryland, New Jersey, and Connecticut--actually only represented one third of the nation's population. The four states that voted against the proposal--Virginia, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Georgia--actually represented more people than the proponents.