The Great Compromise

The Great Compromise

At the Constitutional Convention, delegates clashed over how states should be represented in the national government. Larger states wanted representation based on population, while smaller states wanted every state to have equal representation. The disagreement threatened to break up the convention.

The dispute was reflected in two proposals:

• Virginia Plan: Supported mainly by larger states, it favored representation based on population.
• New Jersey Plan: Supported mainly by smaller states, it favored equal representation among states.

James Madison, a leading advocate of a stronger national government, resisted giving states an equal role in the legislature. According to the account, James Wilson warned Madison that unless he accepted a compromise, the convention might fail and the country might not be formed.

Madison then agreed to a plan with two parts:

• House of Representatives: Each state’s representation would be based on its population.
• Senate: Each state would have two delegates, regardless of population.

Known as the Great Compromise, this arrangement balanced the interests of large and small states and gave states a meaningful role in the national government.

Speakers and Sources Featured

• Documentary narration and commentary: The subtitles do not identify the narrators or commentators by name.
• James Madison: Discussed as a historical figure; the subtitles paraphrase a statement attributed to him.
• James Wilson: Discussed as a historical figure; the subtitles recount his appeal to Madison.