Virginia Plan vs New Jersey Plan: A Comparison

Introduction

The creation of the United States Constitution involved much debate and compromise among the delegates at the Constitutional Convention in 1787. Two primary plans were put forward, the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan, which had differing views on how the new government should be structured.

Virginia Plan

The Virginia Plan, also known as the Randolph Plan, was proposed by James Madison and presented by Edmund Randolph. This plan favored the larger states and called for representation in the national legislature to be based on the population of each state. In essence, the more populous states would have more representatives in the legislature, giving them more power and influence.

New Jersey Plan

The New Jersey Plan, introduced by William Paterson, was in contrast to the Virginia Plan. This plan favored the smaller states and proposed that each state should have an equal number of representatives in the national legislature. This meant that even the smallest states would have the same representation as the largest states, ensuring equality among all states.

The Great Compromise

The debate between the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan was eventually settled with the Great Compromise, also known as the Connecticut Compromise. This compromise created a bicameral legislature, with the House of Representatives based on population (from the Virginia Plan) and the Senate based on equal representation for each state (from the New Jersey Plan). This compromise satisfied the needs of both large and small states, leading to the creation of a new government that properly and fairly represented each state.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan represented differing views on how representation in the national legislature should be determined. The Great Compromise successfully combined elements of both plans to create a government that balanced the interests of both large and small states, ultimately shaping the foundation of the United States government.

Compare the Virginia Plan and New Jersey Plan.

Virginia Plan – The Large States favored – Representation was determined by state population. - Supported by James Madison. New Jersey Plan – The Small States favored – Each state had equal representation. - Supported by William Paterson.
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