What was the significance of the Great Compromise?

• A. Created a legislature similar in structure to the Articles
• B. Created a bicameral legislature with proportional representation in the House and equal representation in the Senate
• C. Created a single, 'one-state, one vote' formula
• D. Strengthened the power of the larger states at the expense of smaller states

Answer: (B)

The main idea being tested is how representation in the new national legislature was resolved. The Great Compromise created a bicameral Congress with proportional representation in the House and equal representation in the Senate. At the Constitutional Convention, large states wanted representation by population (the Virginia Plan) while smaller states demanded equal representation regardless of size (the New Jersey Plan). The compromise blended these approaches: the House would mirror the people’s votes with seats allocated by population, giving bigger states more influence, and the Senate would give each state two senators, ensuring smaller states had equal power. This structure was crucial because it allowed both groups to feel protected and helped move the Constitution forward, shaping how power is shared between the national and state levels. In practice, it balanced interests across diverse states and reinforced the federal framework. Since the Articles had a unicameral legislature, this arrangement marks a departure from that model. It also rejects the idea of a one-state-one-vote system for all purposes, since representation in the House is population-based. And it protected smaller states’ interests by guaranteeing two Senate seats per state, rather than letting larger states dominate.