The Great Compromise: Connecticut's Constitutional Legacy

The Connecticut Compromise, also known as the Great Compromise of 1787, was a political agreement that helped bridge the divide between small and large states during the drafting of the US Constitution. The compromise addressed the disagreement over legislative representation, with smaller states advocating for equal representation across states, and larger states pushing for representation based on population. The Connecticut Compromise proposed a bicameral legislature with two chambers: the Senate, with equal representation from each state, and the House of Representatives, with proportional representation based on state population. This agreement played a crucial role in the adoption of the Constitution and established a precedent for compromise in American political culture.

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The Connecticut Compromise is also known as the Great Compromise of 1787

The Connecticut Compromise, also known as the Great Compromise of 1787, was an agreement reached during the Constitutional Convention of 1787 that defined the legislative structure and representation each state would have under the United States Constitution.

The convention saw delegates from small states and large states disagreeing on the apportionment of representation in the federal government. Edmund Randolph offered a plan known as the Virginia, or large state, plan, which provided for a bicameral legislature with representation of each state based on its population or wealth. William Paterson proposed the New Jersey, or small state, plan, which provided for equal representation in Congress.

The Connecticut Compromise, proposed by Roger Sherman and Oliver Ellsworth, suggested a bicameral legislature with proportional representation in the lower house (the House of Representatives) and equal representation of the states in the upper house (the Senate). Each state would have two members in the Senate. This compromise was approved on July 16, 1787, and was included in the United States Constitution.

The Great Compromise of 1787 defined the structure of the U.S. Congress and the number of representatives each state would have. Each state is represented in Congress by two Senators and a variable number of members of the House of Representatives based on the state’s population.

It was proposed by Roger Sherman, Oliver Ellsworth and William Samuel Johnson

The Connecticut Compromise, also known as the Great Compromise of 1787, was proposed by Roger Sherman, Oliver Ellsworth, and William Samuel Johnson. It was an agreement reached during the Constitutional Convention of 1787 that defined the legislative structure and representation each state would have under the United States Constitution. The Compromise retained the bicameral legislature, with a dual system of representation.

The Compromise was proposed to address the disagreement between delegates from small states and those from large states over the apportionment of representation in the federal government. The small states favoured the New Jersey Plan, which provided for equal representation in Congress. On the other hand, the large states supported the Virginia Plan, which provided for a bicameral legislature with representation based on population or wealth. Neither side would yield, and the Connecticut Compromise was proposed as a solution.

Sherman, Ellsworth, and Johnson proposed a bicameral legislature with proportional representation in the lower house (the House of Representatives) and equal representation of the states in the upper house (the Senate). Each state would have two members in the Senate, while the number of representatives in the House of Representatives would be based on the state's population. This compromise was approved on July 16, 1787, and it led to the adoption of the Constitution.

The Connecticut Compromise also established the norm of compromise in American political culture. It demonstrated that even seemingly insurmountable differences could be bridged through negotiation and concession. The Compromise was a pivotal moment in the creation of the United States of America, and it continues to be an important example of the power of compromise in politics.

It addressed the disagreement between large and small states over representation in the federal government

The Connecticut Compromise, also known as the Great Compromise of 1787 or the Sherman Compromise, addressed the disagreement between large and small states over representation in the federal government. This disagreement was a significant point of contention during the drafting of the United States Constitution in 1787.

The larger states argued that their greater population and contribution of resources entitled them to more weight in the central government. On the other hand, less populous states feared that their voices and interests would be overshadowed in a purely population-based representation system.

The Connecticut Compromise proposed a bicameral legislature, consisting of an upper house (the Senate) and a lower house (the House of Representatives). The upper house would provide equal representation for each state, regardless of population, while the lower house would be based on proportional representation, with representation allocated according to each state's population.

This compromise was proposed by Roger Sherman and Oliver Ellsworth, delegates from Connecticut, and it helped to resolve the dispute between small and large states. The Great Compromise, as it came to be known, was a pivotal moment in the creation of the United States Constitution, ensuring that both large and small states had a say in the federal government.

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It created a bicameral legislature with two chambers: the Senate and the House of Representatives

The Connecticut Compromise, also known as the Great Compromise of 1787, was a pivotal agreement that helped shape the legislative structure of the United States. The compromise addressed the contentious issue of representation in the new federal government, seeking to balance the interests of small and large states. The result was the creation of a bicameral legislature, consisting of two chambers: the Senate and the House of Representatives.

The Senate, or upper house, was designed to provide equal representation for each state, regardless of its population. Each state was allocated two senators, ensuring that all states had an equal voice in this chamber. This aspect of the Connecticut Compromise addressed the concerns of less populous states, which feared that a purely population-based representation would diminish their influence in the federal government.

On the other hand, the House of Representatives, or lower house, was based on proportional representation. Each state's number of representatives was determined by its population, with each state getting a certain number of representatives proportional to its population. This chamber accommodated the larger states' desire for representation that reflected their demographic size and influence.

The Connecticut Compromise was proposed by delegates from Connecticut, notably Roger Sherman, Oliver Ellsworth, and William Samuel Johnson. It was adopted during the Constitutional Convention of 1787, which took place in the Pennsylvania State House in Philadelphia. The convention was convened to amend the Articles of Confederation, but the delegates ultimately decided to draft a new scheme of government, leading to the creation of the United States Constitution.

The compromise was a significant milestone in American political history, not only for establishing the structure of Congress but also for setting a precedent for compromise and consensus-building in a young nation with diverse interests and perspectives. It demonstrated that even in the face of deep disagreements, a negotiated solution could be found, allowing for the adoption of the Constitution and the formation of a more perfect union.

It bridged the gap between the Virginia and New Jersey Plans

The Connecticut Compromise, also known as the Great Compromise of 1787 or the Sherman Compromise, was an agreement that defined the legislative structure and representation each state would have under the United States Constitution. It was reached during the Constitutional Convention of 1787, which sought to resolve the differences between the Virginia and New Jersey Plans.

The Virginia Plan, drafted by James Madison and introduced by Edmund Randolph, proposed a bicameral legislature, or a legislature consisting of two houses, in which the "rights of suffrage" in both houses would be proportional to the size of the state. This plan generally favoured a stronger national government. In contrast, the New Jersey Plan, proposed by William Paterson, called for equal representation for states in a unicameral legislature, with each state having one vote, regardless of its population. This plan retained more authority for the states.

The Connecticut Compromise retained the bicameral legislature as proposed by Roger Sherman, along with proportional representation of the states in the lower house or House of Representatives. It also required the upper house or Senate to be weighted equally among the states, with each state having two members in the Senate. This compromise addressed the concerns of smaller states, which feared that their voices and interests would be drowned out by larger states under the Virginia Plan.

The Connecticut Compromise thus bridged the gap between the Virginia and New Jersey Plans by incorporating elements of both plans. It combined the bicameral legislature of the Virginia Plan with the equal representation of the New Jersey Plan, ensuring that both larger and smaller states had a say in the central government. This unique plan for congressional representation resolved one of the most controversial aspects of the drafting of the Constitution.

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