The smaller states followed the "Connecticut Plan" which, as opposed to the larger states' preference, the "Virginia Plan," made plans for a unicameral body in which all states had equal representation - (today known as the Senate).

The Virginia Plan, on the other hand, was favored by the larger states because it stated that larger populations would equal greater representation in Congress - (today known as the House of Representatives).

The issue of how to count slaves split the delegates into two groups. The northerners regarded slaves as property who should receive no representation. Southerners demanded that Blacks be counted with whites. The compromise clearly reflected the strength of the pro-slavery forces at the convention. The “Three-fifths Compromise” allowed a state to count 3/5 of each Black person in determining political representation in the House.

A delegate from Connecticut, Roger Sherman, proposed a two-house legislature, consisting of a Senate and a House of Representatives. The Senate would have an equal number of representatives from each state. This would satisfy the states with smaller populations. The House of Representatives would include one representative for each 30,000 individuals in a state. This pleased states with larger populations.

The parties that were involved were the republicans and the democrats