What can we learn from the Great Compromise during the Constitutional Convention?

What were the key components of the Great Compromise and why was it significant during the Constitutional Convention? The key components of the Great Compromise were the agreement to create a bicameral legislature, with the Senate having equal representation for each state and the House of Representatives having representation based on population. This compromise was significant during the Constitutional Convention because it resolved the contentious issue of representation, balancing the interests of both large and small states.

During the Constitutional Convention in 1787, the delegates faced a major disagreement over how representation in Congress should be structured. The larger states advocated for representation based on population, while the smaller states pushed for equal representation for all states.

In order to reach a consensus, the Great Compromise, also known as the Connecticut Compromise, was proposed by Roger Sherman and Oliver Ellsworth. It combined elements of the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan to create a balanced solution that satisfied both sides.

The agreement to establish a bicameral legislature, with one house (the Senate) providing equal representation for each state and the other house (the House of Representatives) based on population, ensured that both small and large states had a voice in the federal government.

This compromise laid the foundation for the structure of Congress that we have today, with the Senate representing the interests of individual states and the House of Representatives reflecting the population distribution across the country. By resolving the divisive issue of representation, the Great Compromise played a crucial role in the successful formation of the United States Constitution.

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