“Great Compromise” Saves the Convention

Creating the Declaration of Independence | Creating the United States Constitution | Creating the Bill of Rights

Road to the Constitution | Convention and Ratification

“Great Compromise” Saves the Convention (59)

James Madison’s notes on the Constitutional Convention, July 16, 1787. Manuscript. James Madison Papers, Manuscript Division, Library of Congress (59)
[Digital ID# us0059tt_1 — us0059tt_3]

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“Great Compromise” Saves the Convention (59)	“Great Compromise” Saves the Convention (59.2)
“Great Compromise” Saves the Convention (59.1)

By mid July the representation issue had the Constitutional Convention teetering on the brink of dissolution. Finally, delegates made a “great compromise,” to create a bicameral legislature with the states having equal representation in the upper house or senate and the people having proportional representation in the lower house, where all money bills had to originate.