Eleanor Finch
The Great Compromise, also known as the Connecticut Compromise, was pivotal in ensuring the ratification of the US Constitution. Proposed in 1787 by Roger Sherman and Oliver Ellsworth, it resolved the dispute between larger and smaller states by creating a bicameral legislature with proportional representation in the House of Representatives and equal representation in the Senate. This compromise was necessary to mediate between the Virginia Plan, favouring larger states, and the New Jersey Plan, favouring smaller states. The Great Compromise ensured that both populous and less populous states had a say in legislation, balancing interests across the country and establishing a functional national government.
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What You'll Learn
- The Great Compromise resolved the dispute between larger and smaller states
- It created a bicameral legislature with two houses
- The first house of the legislature would offer the states proportional representation
- The second house of the legislature would give equal representation to all states
- The compromise was necessary to mediate between the Virginia and New Jersey Plans
The Great Compromise resolved the dispute between larger and smaller states
The Great Compromise, also known as the Connecticut Compromise, was proposed during the Constitutional Convention in 1787. It was a pivotal agreement between large and small states that helped define the legislative structure and representation that each state would have under the United States Constitution. The compromise resolved the dispute between larger and smaller states, which had threatened to derail the Convention and the establishment of a functional national government.
Before the Great Compromise, there were two conflicting proposals on the table: the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan. The Virginia Plan, backed by larger states, suggested representation should be based on population, giving them an advantage due to their higher numbers. On the other hand, the New Jersey Plan advocated by smaller states, proposed that each state should have an equal vote, regardless of its size. This conflict led to a contentious debate, with smaller states fearing a loss of power in a legislature controlled by larger states.
The Great Compromise proposed a bicameral legislature, consisting of two houses: the House of Representatives and the Senate. In the House of Representatives, representation would be based on population, benefiting larger states with more representatives. In contrast, the Senate would provide equal representation, with each state having two senators regardless of its population. This dual system of representation balanced the power between states of varying sizes, ensuring that both populous and less populous states had a say in legislation.
The adoption of the Great Compromise was essential for mediating between the conflicting interests of large and small states, and it played a crucial role in the ratification of the U.S. Constitution. It ensured that the legislative branch would have a structure that accommodated the needs and concerns of both larger and smaller states, allowing for a more balanced and inclusive national government.
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It created a bicameral legislature with two houses
The Great Compromise, also known as the Connecticut Compromise, was proposed during the Constitutional Convention in 1787 by Roger Sherman and Oliver Ellsworth of Connecticut. It was designed to resolve the dispute between larger and smaller states, balancing their interests and ensuring that both had a say in the legislative process. The Compromise was pivotal in ensuring the ratification of the Constitution and establishing a functional national government.
The Compromise proposed a bicameral legislature, consisting of two houses: the House of Representatives and the Senate. This structure aimed to address the conflicting demands of larger and smaller states for representation in the new government. The House of Representatives would provide proportional representation, with more populous states having more representatives. This chamber would have sixty-five members initially, based on estimates of each state's population, and this number would be adjusted every ten years following a mandatory census.
The Senate, on the other hand, would provide equal representation for all states, regardless of their population. Each state would be represented by two senators in the upper house, ensuring that smaller states had a voice in the legislative process. This dual system of representation balanced the power between states of varying sizes and populations.
The Great Compromise was a significant development in the creation of a workable government structure. It ensured that both large and small states had representation in the legislature and that no state would be dominated by the other. This compromise was a crucial step in the establishment of the United States government as we know it today, with its unique blend of federalism and representative democracy.
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The first house of the legislature would offer the states proportional representation
The Great Compromise, also known as the Connecticut Compromise, was proposed during the Constitutional Convention in 1787. It was a pivotal agreement between large and small states that defined the legislative structure and representation that each state would have under the United States Constitution. The compromise was necessary to mediate between the Virginia Plan, which favored larger states, and the New Jersey Plan, which favored smaller states.
The First House of the Legislature, also known as the House of Representatives, would offer the states proportional representation. This meant that representation in this chamber would be based on the population of each state, with more populous states having more representatives. For example, a state like California, with a large population, would have many representatives in the House. Initially, the first house was to have sixty-five members until a census could be administered to determine the exact number of representatives for each state.
To ensure that representation remained proportional over time, the legislature would be required to conduct a census every ten years and reapportion representation in the first house accordingly. This would allow for the changing populations of each state to be accurately reflected in the legislative body. Additionally, direct taxation would be proportional to representation in the first house, and money bills would originate in this chamber.
The establishment of proportional representation in the first house was a significant component of the Great Compromise. It addressed the concerns of larger states, which sought representation based on their population, while also creating a balanced legislative structure. By providing a chamber where representation was proportional, the interests and influence of larger states were ensured in the legislative process. This aspect of the Great Compromise contributed to the establishment of a functional national government that considered the diverse needs and perspectives of all states, regardless of their size or population.
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The second house of the legislature would give equal representation to all states
The Great Compromise, also known as the Connecticut Compromise, was proposed during the Constitutional Convention in 1787. It was designed to resolve the dispute between larger and smaller states, balancing their interests and ensuring that both had a say in the legislative process. The compromise proposed a bicameral legislature, consisting of two houses: the House of Representatives and the Senate.
The second house of the legislature, the Senate, would give equal representation to all states. Each state would have two senators, regardless of its population. This was a key demand of the smaller states, who feared losing power in a legislature dominated by larger states if representation was based solely on population. By ensuring that each state had an equal number of senators, the smaller states would have a stronger voice in the legislative process and would not be overshadowed by their larger counterparts.
The principle of equal representation in the Senate was in contrast to the proposed structure of the first house, the House of Representatives, which would offer proportional representation based on population. This meant that more populous states would have more representatives in the House. The Great Compromise, therefore, struck a balance between proportional and general representation, addressing the concerns of both large and small states.
The adoption of this compromise was pivotal in ensuring the ratification of the Constitution and the establishment of a functional national government. It allowed for a legislative structure that accommodated the varying sizes and populations of the states, ensuring that all states had a voice. The compromise demonstrated a willingness to mediate between the interests of larger and smaller states, facilitating a workable government structure.
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The compromise was necessary to mediate between the Virginia and New Jersey Plans
The Great Compromise, also known as the Connecticut Compromise, was proposed during the Constitutional Convention on July 5, 1787, by Roger Sherman and Oliver Ellsworth of Connecticut. The compromise was pivotal in ensuring the ratification of the Constitution, as it balanced the interests of both large and small states.
Before the Great Compromise, there were two opposing proposals: the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan. The Virginia Plan favoured larger states by suggesting representation based on population, while the New Jersey Plan sought to give each state an equal vote, regardless of its size. This led to significant conflict at the Convention, as smaller states feared losing power in a legislature dominated by larger states.
The Great Compromise resolved the dispute between larger and smaller states by establishing a bicameral legislature with proportional representation in the House of Representatives and equal representation in the Senate. The compromise proposed a legislature consisting of two houses: an upper house, the Senate, with equal representation (two senators from each state), and a lower house, the House of Representatives, with representation proportional to each state's population. This dual system of representation balanced the power between states of varying sizes and populations, ensuring that all states had a voice in the legislative process.
The adoption of the Great Compromise was vital for the ratification of the U.S. Constitution and the establishment of a workable government structure. It ensured that the interests of both large and small states were considered, striking a balance between proportional and general representation. The compromise was essential in resolving the contentious debate over how states would be represented in the new government, allowing for the creation of a functional national government.
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Frequently asked questions
The Great Compromise, proposed in 1787, resolved the debate over state representation by creating a bicameral legislature with the House of Representatives based on population and the Senate providing equal representation for each state.
The Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan. The Virginia Plan favoured larger states by suggesting representation based on population, while the New Jersey Plan sought to give each state an equal vote, regardless of size.
The Great Compromise was pivotal in ensuring the ratification of the Constitution, as it balanced the interests of both large and small states. An example of its impact is the structure of Congress today, where states with larger populations have more representatives in the House, while smaller states have the same number of senators.
Roger Sherman and Oliver Ellsworth, both delegates from Connecticut, proposed the Great Compromise during the Constitutional Convention on July 5, 1787.
The Great Compromise aimed to resolve the dispute between larger and smaller states, ensuring that all states had a voice in the legislative process. It structured the legislative branch and established a dual system of representation that balanced power between states of varying sizes and populations.
