GED Social Studies TestCivics and GovernmentMedium
During the Constitutional Convention, delegates debated extensively over how states would be represented in the national legislature. Larger states favored proportional representation, while smaller states advocated for equal representation. What compromise ultimately resolved this dispute and shaped the structure of the U.S. Congress?
- AThe Electoral College Compromise
- BThe Three-Fifths Compromise
- CThe Great Compromise (Connecticut Compromise)
- DThe Commerce Compromise
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: C. The Great Compromise (Connecticut Compromise)
The Great Compromise, also known as the Connecticut Compromise, resolved the dispute between large and small states by creating a bicameral legislature with proportional representation in the House of Representatives and equal representation in the Senate.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. The Electoral College Compromise established the method for electing the President.
- B. The Three-Fifths Compromise dealt with how enslaved people would be counted for representation and taxation.
- D. The Commerce Compromise allowed the federal government to regulate interstate and foreign commerce but prohibited taxes on exports.
Great Compromise
The Great Compromise, or Connecticut Compromise, established a bicameral legislature (two-house Congress) during the Constitutional Convention, addressing representation disputes between large and small states.
- Created by Roger Sherman
- Established the House of Representatives (proportional representation)
- Established the Senate (equal representation, two senators per state)
- Resolved the conflict between the Virginia Plan and New Jersey Plan
Memory trick: Great people compromise to make great documents.