The debate between big and small states over representation in the new federal government was resolved by the Great Compromise , also known as the Connecticut Compromise. Proposed by Connecticut delegates Roger Sherman and Oliver Ellsworth during the Constitutional Convention of 1787, this compromise created a bicameral legislature with two houses:
- The House of Representatives , where representation is based on state population, giving larger states more representatives.
- The Senate , where each state has equal representation with two senators, protecting the interests of smaller states.
This dual system balanced the competing demands of large states wanting proportional representation and small states wanting equal representation, allowing the Constitutional Convention to move forward and ultimately leading to the creation of the U.S. Constitution
. Additionally, the compromise included provisions such as money bills originating in the House, reflecting the will of the people, while the Senate preserved state equality
. This framework remains the foundation of the American legislative system today.
