Connecticut Compromise

The Connecticut Compromise, also known as the Great Compromise of 1787 or Sherman Compromise, was an important agreement made during the Constitutional Convention of 1787. This compromise helped shape how the government of the United States would be organized.

It kept the idea of having two separate groups of lawmakers, called a bicameral legislature, which was suggested by Roger Sherman. In one group, called the lower house or House of Representatives, the number of lawmakers each state had depended on how many people lived there. But in the other group, called the upper house or Senate, each state would have the same number of lawmakers—two per state—no matter how big or small the state was.

This agreement was important because it helped all the states agree on how they would work together under the new United States Constitution. It made sure that both big states and small states had a say in the government, which helped prevent arguments and made it easier to create the United States as we know it today.

Background

Further information: History of the United States Senate

On May 29, 1787, Edmund Randolph from Virginia suggested creating a legislature with two parts. In his idea, called the Virginia or Randolph Plan, each state’s group of representatives would depend on how many people lived there. People would choose members for the lower house, and state legislatures would help choose members for the upper house.

Smaller states like Delaware worried they would not be heard if this plan was used. Some delegates also thought they couldn’t change everything about the old rules, called the Articles of Confederation. On June 15, 1787, William Paterson from New Jersey offered a plan with just one house where every state would get the same number of representatives, no matter how many people lived there. This New Jersey Plan would keep the old rules but change them a little to give Congress more power.

At that time, some southern states expected to grow larger and liked the idea of representation based on population. However, some big states, like New York, wanted each state to have equal say. This led to big debates, with some smaller states even threatening to leave unless they got fair treatment.

Compromise

During the Constitutional Convention of 1787, leaders from each state worked together to find a solution for how states would be represented in the new government. On July 5, 1787, they agreed on the "Great Compromise." This plan decided that each state would have the same number of representatives in the upper house, called the Senate, with every state getting two members. In the lower house, called the House of Representatives, the number of representatives for each state would depend on its population, with each representative standing for every 40,000 people.

The compromise ensured that both big and small states had a voice in the government. It also decided that important money decisions, like taxes, would start in the House of Representatives. This balance helped create a fair system where all states could work together under the new United States Constitution.

Constitution

The Senate's representation was protected in Article Five of the United States Constitution. It says that no state can lose its equal vote in the Senate without agreeing to it. This agreement helped continue discussions and led to the Three-fifths Compromise, which made the issue of representation in the House more complex.