Compromise

Compromise is when people make a deal by giving up part of what they want to find a fair agreement.

Legislative Representation

Plan A

• State of Virginia

  • Wanted a bicameral (two-house) legislature where representation is based on population (big states get more votes)

    • Supported by more populated states

Plan B

• State of New Jersey

  • Wanted a unicameral (one-house) legislature where every state had the same number of representatives (equal)

    • Supported by less populated states

• Virginia plan: Big states wanted a bicameral legislature, and the number of representatives would be based on population, meaning that bigger states would have more power.

• New Jersey plan: Small states wanted a unicameral legislature, and there would be equal representation for each state.

  • Great Compromise: They decided to create a bicameral legislature in Congress. The House of Representatives, where bigger states get more votes (representatives), and then the Senate, where all states get the same number of votes.

Bicameral legislature means that there are two separate groups that make laws

Unicameral legislature means that there is just one group that makes laws