The Founding Fathers and Representation in Congress

Which state proposed the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan?

Would Virginia have supported the Virginia Plan or the New Jersey Plan for representation in Congress? Explain your rationale based on your knowledge of the two plans.

Answer:

The Virginia Plan was proposed by the state of Virginia, while the New Jersey Plan was put forward by the state of New Jersey.

During the Constitutional Convention of 1787, the two primary competing plans for representation in Congress were the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan. The Virginia Plan was introduced by Virginia delegate Edmund Randolph and supported by larger states like Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts. It proposed a bicameral legislature with representation based on population, giving more power to the larger states. On the other hand, the New Jersey Plan, put forth by New Jersey delegate William Paterson, advocated for a unicameral legislature with equal representation for each state.

In this context, Virginia would have naturally supported the Virginia Plan due to its emphasis on population-based representation, which would have benefited larger states like Virginia by allotting them more seats in Congress. Conversely, smaller states like New Jersey would have favored the New Jersey Plan as it ensured equal representation among all states regardless of their population size.

TheFounding Fathers had to grapple with the challenge of balancing the interests of both larger and smaller states during the Constitutional Convention. Ultimately, a compromise known as the Great Compromise or the Connecticut Compromise was reached, which established a bicameral legislature with the House of Representatives based on population and the Senate providing equal representation for all states. This compromise satisfied both the concerns of larger states seeking proportionate representation and smaller states aiming for equal influence in the legislative process.