AMSCO AP United States History Exam (APUSH) – Period 3 Practice Test

The Connecticut Plan, also known as the Great Compromise, was designed to balance the interests of both large and small states during the Constitutional Convention of 1787. The correct answer is that it centralized all governmental power, which is not a feature of the plan.

The Connecticut Plan established a framework for a bicameral legislature, which consisted of the House of Representatives and the Senate. This structure allowed for representation based on population in the House and equal representation for each state in the Senate, thereby addressing concerns from both large states and small states. Moreover, the plan also established three branches of government—executive, legislative, and judicial—ensuring a separation of powers that prevented any single entity from holding too much control.

While the plan sought to establish a balanced federal structure, it did not centralize all governmental power. Instead, it maintained a significant degree of power for both state and federal governments by allowing states to retain their authority while creating a federal government with specific enumerated powers. Therefore, the assertion that it centralized all governmental power is inconsistent with the foundational goals of the Connecticut Plan.