Imagine Texas and Oklahoma were independent countries wanting to unify into one country, Texahoma, with Dallas established as its capital. They need to decide how to divide up representation in the new legislature. Texas has over six times the population of Oklahoma and almost four times the land area.

Texas wants representation in the new legislature based on population. Each area should get representatives based on the number of people it has. Oklahoma thinks that each country should get equal representation in the new country.

Quick Question: How would you assign representatives for Texahoma? You can choose either the Texas or the Oklahoma plan, or come up with one of your own. Why did you choose the plan you did? Answer in your notes.

Large States vs. Small States

Source: William Paterson Copy, Wikimedia

This imaginary conflict between Texas and Oklahoma mirrors the major conflict between large states and small states that occurred at the Constitutional Convention to assign representation in Congress.

The large states advanced a plan written byInteractive popup. Assistance may be required. James Madison and presented by Edmund Randolph. It was known as the Virginia Plan because both men were from Virginia. The small states advanced the New Jersey Plan, called so because it was presented by William Paterson, a delegate from the "Garden State."

Click on the pictures of Virginia and New Jersey below to learn more about each plan.

The Great Compromise

The delegates spent a large amount of time at the convention trying to choose between the Virginia and New Jersey plans. Finally a compromise was reached. This plan was advanced by Roger Sherman of Connecticut and took aspects of both plans.

At the time, the plan for the U.S. Congress was known as the Connecticut Compromise. Now, because it is widely recognized that the Constitution would probably never have been ratified without it, the deal is known as the Great Compromise.

The Connecticut Compromise created a bicameral legislature, with power divided between two chambers of Congress. In one part, the House of Representatives, membership is determined on the basis of population (proportional representation). In the other part, the Senate, membership is equally divided among the states (equal representation).

Activity

Determine which part of the compromise came from which plan. Drag the license plate to the appropriate part of the Great Compromise.

• Quick Reflection: Who “won” the Great Compromise? Do you think it’s fair that membership in the Senate, which has more constitutional responsibilities than the House of Representatives, is divided equally among the states? Answer using your notes.