Ohio
8. Compromises
8.1 The Great Compromise at the Constitutional Convention
Chapter 8.1
The Great Compromise: How America Built Its Congress
Discover how the Connecticut Compromise of 1787 resolved a critical deadlock and created the bicameral legislature that defines the U.S. Congress today.
What You'll Learn
Roger Sherman's Connecticut Compromise created a bicameral legislative structure.
The House uses population-based proportional representation for each state.
The Senate grants every state exactly two equal senators always.
Additional compromises addressed slavery, commerce, and presidential election processes.
What You'll Practice
1
Students identify key vocabulary including bicameral, federalism, and compromise.
2
Learners compare the Virginia Plan and New Jersey Plan proposals.
3
Questions test understanding of how each compromise balanced competing state interests.
Why This Matters
Understanding the Great Compromise reveals why Congress is structured the way it is and how political negotiation shapes the foundations of democratic government.
This Unit Includes
Practice exercises
Learning resources
Skills
Great Compromise
Bicameral Legislature
Proportional Representation
Federalism
Constitutional Convention
OH Curriculum Aligned
