The Great Compromise, also known as the Connecticut Compromise, resolved a major conflict during the Constitutional Convention of 1787. The conflict was between larger and smaller states over representation in the newly proposed federal government.
Larger states wanted representation based on population, which would give them more power in the legislative branch. Smaller states, on the other hand, favored equal representation for all states, regardless of size.
The Great Compromise proposed a bicameral legislature, which means a two-house system. The House of Representatives would have representation based on population, satisfying the larger states. The Senate would have equal representation with two senators per state, addressing the concerns of smaller states.
This compromise was crucial in ensuring that both large and small states could agree on the structure of the federal government, paving the way for the ratification of the U.S. Constitution.