What was the Great Compromise?

The Great Compromise, also known as the Connecticut Compromise, was a crucial agreement reached during the Constitutional Convention in 1787. It established the framework for the legislative structure of the United States government by creating a bicameral legislature, which consists of two houses: the House of Representatives and the Senate.

In the House of Representatives, representation is based on the population of each state, which favored larger states. In contrast, the Senate grants each state equal representation, with two senators per state, which protects the interests of smaller states. This compromise balanced the competing interests of both large and small states and was essential in enabling the framers of the Constitution to move forward toward ratification.

This agreement was pivotal in ensuring the Constitution's acceptance, as it addressed significant concerns regarding representation and the power balance among states, contributing to the formation of a more unified nation under an effective federal structure. The other options do not accurately reflect the context or importance of the Great Compromise in the development of the U.S. Constitution.