Crafting Compromise: the Architects of the Great Compromise
This essay is about the creation of the Great Compromise during the Constitutional Convention of 1787 focusing on the pivotal roles of Roger Sherman and Oliver Ellsworth. It explains how Sherman and Ellsworth merged the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan to form a bicameral legislature balancing the interests of both large and small states. Their proposal which established proportional representation in the House of Representatives and equal representation in the Senate was crucial in resolving the conflict between the states and laying the foundation for the U.S. government’s structure. The essay underscores the importance of compromise and the visionary leadership of Sherman and Ellsworth in shaping American democracy.
The Great Compromise also known as the Connecticut Compromise shook up American history back in 1787. It was a big deal that shaped how the United States government works. But who were the brains behind this crucial political move?
The Great Compromise came about because states with different sizes of populations couldn’t agree on how things should run. Two guys from Connecticut Roger Sherman and Oliver Ellsworth stepped up big time. They found a way to blend two opposing plans—the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan—into something that everyone could live with.
Roger Sherman was a real practical thinker. He knew that sometimes you gotta give a little to get something done. The Virginia Plan from James Madison wanted a two-part Congress where more people meant more power. On the flip side the New Jersey Plan backed by William Paterson wanted every state to have equal say no matter how many people lived there. Sherman’s idea was genius—he suggested a Congress with two parts: one where each state’s power depended on how many folks lived there (the House of Representatives) and another where every state got the same say (the Senate).
Oliver Ellsworth Sherman’s buddy played a key role in fine-tuning and selling this compromise. His legal smarts and smooth talking helped win over folks from both big and small states. He made sure everyone saw the perks of a fair system where nobody got left out.
Getting to this compromise wasn’t easy. The convention was a battleground of ideas. Big state folks argued hard for their way saying fairness meant counting heads. Smaller state folks worried they’d get sidelined if that happened. It was a real nail-biter—fail to agree and the whole shebang might’ve fallen apart.
Sherman and Ellsworth’s idea hit the sweet spot. By splitting Congress in two they made a system where both big states and small states could feel okay. The House took care of the big states by counting people while the Senate kept things even for the little guys. This tag-team system didn’t just solve a fight—it set up a government that could roll with the punches for years to come.
Props to Sherman and Ellsworth for seeing the big picture. They knew a united country was stronger than a divided one and they didn’t mind making sacrifices to prove it. They saw through the messy politics of their time and found a way to make everybody happy—or at least okay with how things turned out.
Looking back the Great Compromise wasn’t just a deal—it was a turning point for American democracy. It showed what can happen when folks work together instead of against each other. The ideas from that compromise still steer how America runs today showing how smart Sherman and Ellsworth really were.
Crafting Compromise: The Architects of the Great Compromise. (2024, Jul 06). Retrieved from https://papersowl.com/examples/crafting-compromise-the-architects-of-the-great-compromise/
