Final answer:
Small States with small populations sought equal representation to prevent being dominated by larger states. The Great Compromise gave each state equal representation in the Senate to balance interests between states of varying sizes, ensuring a unified but balanced federal structure.
Step-by-step explanation:
A justification for a State with a small population having equal representation is rooted in the desire to protect the interests of smaller states against being overridden by more populous states. The Great Compromise, a cornerstone of the United States Constitution, balanced the power between large and small states by creating a bicameral legislature, including the Senate, where every state has equal representation with two senators each.
This balanced approach was crucial in the formative years of the United States, as it addressed the concerns of small states that feared the dominance of larger states in national policy if representation was based solely on population. Not only did it appease smaller states like Delaware, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Maryland, who were concerned about maintaining some level of sovereignty and power, but it also sought to establish a federal government capable of regulating commerce and maintaining order. Oliver Ellsworth's acknowledgment that "We were partly national; partly federal," reflects the willingness to find a middle ground in the interest of forming a more perfect union.