What Makes the Founding Fathers' Plans so Interesting?

The Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan were two significant proposals put forth during the Constitutional Convention in 1787. These plans laid the groundwork for the structure of the United States government. One of the key differences between the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan was their approach to representation in the legislature.

The Virginia Plan, proposed by James Madison, called for a bicameral legislature consisting of two houses. Representation in both houses would be based on population, favoring larger states. On the other hand, the New Jersey Plan, supported by William Paterson, advocated for a unicameral legislature where each state would have equal representation, regardless of its population size.

Virginia Plan:

The Virginia Plan proposed a strong national government with the power to levy taxes, regulate commerce, and make laws. It also included an executive branch and a judiciary. This plan favored larger states like Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts, which would have more representatives in the legislature due to their larger populations.

New Jersey Plan:

In contrast, the New Jersey Plan aimed to protect the interests of smaller states like New Jersey, Delaware, and Connecticut. It sought to preserve the equal representation of states in the legislature to prevent larger states from dominating the decision-making process.

Ultimately, a compromise known as the Connecticut Compromise or the Great Compromise was reached. This compromise combined elements of both plans by creating a bicameral legislature with a House of Representatives based on population and a Senate with equal representation for each state. This compromise satisfied both large and small states and played a crucial role in the formation of the United States Constitution.