Final answer:
The Connecticut Compromise was a vital resolution at the Constitutional Convention that led to the creation of a bicameral Congress, balancing the representation of large and small states in the Senate and the House of Representatives, thus shaping the federal structure of the U.S. government.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Connecticut Compromise, also known as the Great Compromise, was a fundamental agreement reached during the 1787 Constitutional Convention which resolved a fierce debate between the large and small states over legislative representation. Thanks to the compromise efforts led by Roger Sherman of Connecticut, the compromise established a bicameral legislature, consisting of two houses: the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Senate would feature equal representation, with each state having two senators, while the House of Representatives’ membership would be based on each state’s population, thus ensuring a fair balance of power. This ingenious solution forged a middle path between the Virginia Plan (favoring large states) and the New Jersey Plan (favoring small states), and consequently became a cornerstone of the U.S. Constitution, solidifying the federal structure of the United States government.