Answer:
The Great Compromise at the Constitutional Convention of 1787 aimed to address the issue of representation in the newly proposed United States Congress. It led to the creation of a bicameral legislature with two houses: the Senate and the House of Representatives. To understand the goals of small states and large states and how the compromise addressed them, let's compare their objectives:
1. **Small States' Goals:**
- Concerned about equal representation in the federal government.
- Favored the New Jersey Plan, which proposed equal representation for each state in the legislature.
- Feared that their interests and voices would be overshadowed by larger states in a unicameral legislature.
2. **Large States' Goals:**
- Wanted representation in the federal government to be based on population.
- Supported the Virginia Plan, which proposed representation proportional to a state's population in the legislature.
- Believed that their larger populations should translate into more influence in shaping federal policies.
The Great Compromise, also known as the Connecticut Compromise, reconciled these differing goals by creating a two-chambered Congress:
- **Senate:** Each state, regardless of size, would have equal representation with two senators. This satisfied the concerns of small states by ensuring that they had an equal say in at least one chamber of Congress.
- **House of Representatives:** Representation in the House would be based on a state's population, which satisfied the desires of larger states for proportional representation.
So, the most accurate comparison about the goals of small states and large states made better by the Great Compromise is that it struck a balance between these competing interests. Small states gained equality in the Senate, while large states gained influence in the House based on their populations. This compromise was crucial in securing the agreement needed to establish the U.S. Constitution and form a more perfect union.
Step-by-step explanation: