The key issue debated during the Constitutional Convention of 1787 was the structure of the legislative branch and how states would be represented in the new government. This debate primarily revolved around the Virginia Plan, which suggested representation based on population, and the New Jersey Plan, which called for equal representation for each state. The eventual compromise, known as the Great Compromise or Connecticut Compromise, established a bicameral legislature with the House of Representatives based on population and the Senate providing equal representation. This resolution was crucial for achieving broader consensus and ultimately led to the United States Constitution's ratification.