What was the main issue resolved by the Great Compromise?

The main issue addressed by the Great Compromise was the structure of Congress. This compromise was achieved during the Constitutional Convention in 1787 and was crucial in determining how states would be represented in the legislative branch of the federal government.

Prior to the Great Compromise, there were competing plans for Congress—the Virginia Plan, which favored larger states by proposing representation based on population, and the New Jersey Plan, which favored smaller states by advocating for equal representation regardless of population size. The Great Compromise merged these ideas, resulting in a bicameral legislature comprising two chambers: the House of Representatives, with representation based on state population, and the Senate, with equal representation of two senators from each state. This solution pleased both larger and smaller states and ensured a balance of power within Congress, allowing the new government to move forward with a functioning legislative body.