The Great Compromise, also known as the Connecticut Compromise, was a landmark agreement that helped shape the structure of the United States government. It was reached during the Constitutional Convention in 1787, and it ultimately paved the way for the creation of the US Constitution.

The Great Compromise was necessary because the delegates to the Constitutional Convention were deeply divided about how to structure the federal government. Some wanted a strong central government with power concentrated at the federal level, while others were concerned about allowing too much power to be concentrated in a single entity. The Great Compromise struck a balance between these two views.

Under the Great Compromise, the federal government would be composed of two separate branches: the House of Representatives and the Senate. In the House of Representatives, each state would be represented based on its population, with larger states having more representatives than smaller states. In the Senate, each state would have an equal number of representatives, regardless of population.

This compromise was necessary because it gave both larger and smaller states a voice in the federal government. Larger states would have more power in the House of Representatives, where population was the determining factor, while smaller states would have a greater voice in the Senate. By striking this balance, the Great Compromise helped ensure that states both large and small would have a say in the federal government.

In addition to the House and Senate, the Great Compromise also established the Electoral College, which would be responsible for electing the president of the United States. The number of electors each state had was equal to the number of representatives it had in the House and Senate combined.

The Great Compromise was not without controversy, and it was hotly debated among the delegates to the Constitutional Convention. But ultimately, it was accepted as a necessary compromise that allowed the United States to move forward with the creation of its new government.

Today, the Great Compromise remains an important moment in American history. Its legacy can be seen in the enduring structure of the US government, as well as in the ongoing debates about the balance between state and federal power.