 The Connecticut Compromise , forged by Roger Sherman from Connecticut , was proposed on June 11 . In a sense it blended the Virginia ( large @-@ state ) and New Jersey ( small @-@ state ) proposals . Ultimately , however , its main contribution was in determining the apportionment of the Senate , and thus retaining a federal character in the constitution . Sherman sided with the two @-@ house national legislature of the Virginia Plan , but proposed " That the proportion of suffrage in the 1st. branch [ house ] should be according to the respective numbers of free inhabitants ; and that in the second branch or Senate , each State should have one vote and no more . " This plan failed at first , but on July 23 the question was finally settled . 
