The Great Compromise helped create a balanced and functional system of representation, satisfying both the small and large states.
The Great Compromise, also known as the Connecticut Compromise, played a crucial role in creating the governmental structure of the United States. The compromise addressed the contentious issue of representation in the legislative branch, balancing the interests of both small and large states.
The key elements of the Great Compromise were:
1. Bicameral Legislature:
- To resolve the dispute over representation in the legislature, the compromise proposed a bicameral (two-house) legislature.
- The lower house, the House of Representatives, would be based on population, providing proportional representation to larger states.
- The upper house, the Senate, would have equal representation for each state, regardless of its size.
2. Equal State Representation in the Senate:
- This aspect of the compromise addressed the concerns of smaller states, ensuring that they would have an equal voice in at least one branch of the legislature.
3. Population-Based Representation in the House:
- The compromise accommodated the desires of larger states for representation based on population, allowing them to have more influence in the House of Representatives.
The Great Compromise helped create a balanced and functional system of representation, satisfying both the small and large states. This laid the foundation for the structure of the United States government, promoting a system that aimed to balance the interests of different states while creating a strong and effective central authority.