<P> One of the most divisive issues facing the Convention was the structure of Congress . James Madison 's Virginia Plan called for a bicameral Congress ; the lower house would be elected directly by the people , and the upper house would be elected by the lower house . The plan drew the support of delegates from large states such as Virginia , Massachusetts , and Pennsylvania , as it called for representation based on population . The smaller states , however , favored the New Jersey Plan , which called for a unicameral Congress with equal representation for the states . Eventually , a compromise , known as the Connecticut Compromise or the Great Compromise was reached ; one house of Congress ( the House of Representatives ) would provide proportional representation , whereas the other ( the Senate ) would provide equal representation . The Constitution was ratified by the end of 1788 , and its full implementation was set for March 4 , 1789 . The House began work on April 1 , 1789 , when it achieved a quorum for the first time . Frederick Muhlenberg , a Pennsylvania Lutheran minister and politician , was the first Speaker of the United States House of Representatives . </P>
<P> One of the most divisive issues facing the Convention was the structure of Congress . James Madison 's Virginia Plan called for a bicameral Congress ; the lower house would be elected directly by the people , and the upper house would be elected by the lower house . The plan drew the support of delegates from large states such as Virginia , Massachusetts , and Pennsylvania , as it called for representation based on population . The smaller states , however , favored the New Jersey Plan , which called for a unicameral Congress with equal representation for the states . Eventually , a compromise , known as the Connecticut Compromise or the Great Compromise was reached ; one house of Congress ( the House of Representatives ) would provide proportional representation , whereas the other ( the Senate ) would provide equal representation . The Constitution was ratified by the end of 1788 , and its full implementation was set for March 4 , 1789 . The House began work on April 1 , 1789 , when it achieved a quorum for the first time . Frederick Muhlenberg , a Pennsylvania Lutheran minister and politician , was the first Speaker of the United States House of Representatives . </P>
what states plan created the house of representatives
what states plan created the house of representatives
Virginia
Virginia