why did small states favor equal representation of the states in congress?

Small states favored equal representation of the states in Congress because they feared being ignored and overwhelmed by the larger states if representation were based solely on population. At the Constitutional Convention, smaller states argued that each state was a legally equal entity and deserved equal voice in governance, despite their smaller populations. This concern was that proportional representation would give larger, more populous states too much control over national decisions, potentially drowning out the interests of smaller states. The resulting compromise, known as the Connecticut Compromise or Great Compromise, established a bicameral legislature with two houses: the Senate, where each state has equal representation regardless of size or population, and the House of Representatives, where representation is based on population. This structure balanced the interests of both large and small states, assuring small states they would maintain significant influence in the Senate with equal voting power to larger states. This arrangement provided small states with political clout and protected their interests within the new federal government framework.