Lesson 10: Why Was Representation a Major Issue at the Philadelphia Convention?

Lesson Purpose

What or whom should the national government represent—the states, the people, or both? This lesson examines that debate at the Philadelphia Convention. It also examines the so-called Great Compromise, which dealt with the makeup of the House of Representatives and the Senate. In addition, it examines two issues that the Great Compromise did not resolve: how population would be counted for representation in the House and how new states might receive representation in Congress.