Delegates met in Philadelphia in 1787 to create a new government. Soon after the convention began, two competing plans for representation developed. Large states supported a plan that created a strong national government. Their plan would base representation by the size of population. Small states supported a plan for a
weaker national government that would have a one-house legislature represent all states equally. Disputes between big states and small states nearly broke up the
convention. The delegates finally compromised on a plan that created a powerful national government. The legislature would have two houses. The number of
representatives to the lower house would be based on population. Each state would send two representatives to the upper house.
What did small states gain in the compromise plan?
O a powerful national government to protect their interests against big states
some ability in the upper house to check large states power in the lower house
the right to elect some members to the upper house based on their populations
o the right to have two representatives per state in the upper house, rather than just one per state