Final answer:
The Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan were competing proposals for the structure of the United States government. The Great Compromise combined elements from both plans and established a bicameral legislature with equal representation in the Senate and representation based on population in the House of Representatives. This compromise still affects the working of our government today.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan were two competing proposals for the structure of the United States government during the Constitutional Convention in 1787. The Virginia Plan advocated for a bicameral legislature with representation based on population, while the New Jersey Plan proposed a unicameral legislature with equal representation for all states. The Connecticut Compromise, also known as the Great Compromise, combined elements from both plans and established a bicameral legislature with equal representation in the Senate and representation based on population in the House of Representatives.
This compromise was significant because it addressed the concerns of both large and small states, ensuring that every state had a voice in the government. It still affects the working of our government today because it established the framework for how Congress operates. The equal representation in the Senate ensures that smaller states have an equal say in legislation, while the proportional representation in the House reflects the population of each state.