Understanding the Great Compromise in Early American Government
The Great Compromise of 1787 represents a pivotal moment in American constitutional history that resolved one of the most contentious issues at the Constitutional Convention - how states would be represented in Congress. This fundamental agreement shaped the structure of American legislative power that continues today.
Definition: The Great Compromise, also known as the Connecticut Compromise, established a bicameral Congress with proportional representation in the House of Representatives and equal representation in the Senate.
The Virginia Plan, championed by James Madison and other delegates from larger states, proposed congressional representation based strictly on state population. Under this system, states with larger populations would receive more representatives and consequently more voting power in Congress. This approach aligned with democratic principles of proportional representation but threatened to diminish the influence of smaller states in national governance.
In response, smaller states advocated for the New Jersey Plan, which called for equal representation regardless of population size. This plan would give each state one vote in Congress, effectively giving smaller states like Delaware the same political weight as populous states like Virginia. While this approach protected smaller states' interests, it potentially undermined the democratic principle of representation based on population.
Highlight: The Great Compromise resolved this conflict by creating two chambers of Congress:
- The House of Representatives with representation based on state population
- The Senate with equal representation of two senators per state