The Founding Fathers' Vision for the United States Government

Virginia Plan

The Virginia Plan, proposed by James Madison, aimed to establish a powerful national government with proportional representation based on population. The plan suggested a two-house legislature, an independent executive, and a national judiciary.

The Virginia Plan sought to create a system where the larger states would have more influence in the central government due to their larger population size.

Purpose of Virginia Plan

The primary purpose of the Virginia Plan was to address the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation and establish a more efficient and authoritative national government. By implementing proportional representation, the plan aimed to ensure that the more populous states would have a larger voice in decision-making processes.

New Jersey Plan

In response to the Virginia Plan, the New Jersey Plan was presented by William Paterson. This plan proposed a one-house legislature with equal representation for all states, regardless of their population size.

The New Jersey Plan was supported by smaller states as it aimed to protect their interests and prevent domination by larger states in the national government.

Purpose of New Jersey Plan

The purpose of the New Jersey Plan was to safeguard the interests of smaller states by ensuring that they would have equal representation and influence in the central government. This plan was viewed as a counterbalance to the Virginia Plan's favoritism towards larger states.

Overall, the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan represented different visions for the structure of the United States government, reflecting the diverse interests and concerns of the states during the Philadelphia Convention in 1787.