The Great Compromise

Objective Summary:

• Delegates to the Constitutional Convention argued about how many representatives each state should be allowed in Legistlative Branch.
• The larger states favored the Virginia Plan.
• According to the Virginia Plan, each state would have a different number of representatives based on the state's population.
• The smaller states favored the New Jersey Plan.
• According to the New Jersey Plan, the number of representatives would be the same for each state.
• A delegate from Connecticut, Roger Sherman, proposed a two-house legislature (BICAMERAL!!!), consisting of a Senate and a House of Representatives.
• The Senate would have an equal number of representatives from each state. This would satisfy the states with smaller populations.
• The House of Representatives would include one representative for each 30,000 individuals in a state. This pleased states with larger populations.

• This two-house legislature plan worked for all states and became known as the Great Compromise.