The Great Compromise (also called the Connecticut Compromise) established a bicameral Congress with two different systems of representation: a House of Representatives based on population and a Senate with equal representation for each state.

Quick Scoop: Core Answer

  • It created a two-house (bicameral) legislature in the new U.S. Constitution.
  • In the House of Representatives , the number of members each state gets is based on its population (proportional representation).
  • In the Senate , every state gets the same number of senators (equal representation), eventually fixed at two per state.
  • This deal balanced the power demands of large states (who wanted representation by population) and small states (who wanted equal votes).

Mini Story: Why It Mattered

At the Constitutional Convention of 1787, delegates were stuck in a bitter fight. Large states backed the Virginia Plan , which called for representation based on population in the national legislature, giving them more influence. Smaller states feared being overpowered and pushed plans that kept equal votes for each state.

Connecticut delegates Roger Sherman and Oliver Ellsworth proposed a middle path: one house for the people (by population) and one for the states (equally). This “Great Compromise” broke the deadlock and allowed the Constitution to move forward.

What Exactly Did It Establish?

  • A bicameral Congress :
    • House of Representatives
    • Senate
  • House of Representatives :
    • Seats allocated according to each state’s population (initially one representative for every 40,000 inhabitants in early proposals).
  • Senate :
    • Every state has an equal voice, with the same number of senators (ultimately two per state).
  • Overall goal :
    • Balance the interests of big and small states in the national legislature so neither side could dominate.

Simple One-Line Wrap-Up

The Great Compromise established today’s U.S. Congress structure: a House where representation is based on population and a Senate where all states are equal.

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