History of North America

How did the great compromise persuade small states to join union with large states?

The Great Compromise persuaded small states to join the union with large states by establishing a bicameral legislature—the United States Congress.

_1. Equal Representation in the Senate:_

- The compromise ensured that each state, regardless of its size, would have equal representation in the Senate, with two senators per state.

_2. Proportional Representation in the House:_

- In contrast to the Senate, the House of Representatives would be based on proportional representation, meaning that the number of representatives each state would have in the House would be determined by its population.

This arrangement appeased the concerns of both large and small states.

- Large states, such as Virginia and Pennsylvania, supported the proportional representation in the House, ensuring their influence would be proportional to their population.

- Small states, such as Delaware and Rhode Island, enthusiastically supported the equal representation in the Senate. This guaranteed they would have an equal say in the legislative process, preventing larger states from dominating the decision-making.

Therefore, by balancing the interests of large and small states, the Great Compromise successfully persuaded small states to join the union, ultimately leading to the formation of a more unified and stable United States.