What was the purpose of the Great Compromise?

The purpose of the Great Compromise, also known as the Connecticut Compromise, was to address a significant issue during the Constitutional Convention of 1787 regarding the representation of states in the new government. The compromise established a bicameral legislature, which means Congress would be divided into two houses: the House of Representatives and the Senate.

In the House of Representatives, representation is based on the population of each state, which favors larger states, while in the Senate, each state has an equal number of senators, regardless of its population, providing equal representation for smaller states. This two-pronged approach helped to balance the interests of both large and small states and was crucial in the drafting and ratification of the Constitution.

Other options, such as establishing a federal tax system, determining the voting age, or settling the issue of slavery, were significant topics during the time but were not the primary focus or outcome of the Great Compromise. Instead, the compromise was specifically aimed at resolving the conflict over representation in the legislature, making the division of Congress into the House and the Senate the correct answer.