the connecticut compromise (also known as the great compromise of 1787 or sherman's compromise) was an agreement that large and small states reached during the constitutional convention of 1787 that established a two-house legislature under the united states constitution. it retained the bicameral legislature as proposed by roger sherman, along with proportional representation in the lower house. it required the upper house, united states senate, to have two members from each state. the lower house, or house of representatives, would have representation based on the population of a state.