When the United States Constitution was first drafted, there were two major proposals for the framework of the government: the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan. These plans were created to address the issues of representation and power distribution between the states and the federal government.
The Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan sparked intense debate among the delegates at the Constitutional Convention. Ultimately, a compromise was reached with the creation of the Great Compromise, which combined aspects of both plans to create the structure of the government we know today. Understanding the differences between these two plans is crucial to understanding the formation of the United States government and the principles it was founded upon.
Virginia Plan vs. New Jersey Plan: The Basics
The Virginia Plan: Representation by Population
The Virginia Plan was written mainly by James Madison and presented by Edmund Randolph of Virginia. It favored the larger states because it suggested representation should depend on a state’s population.
Main Points of the Virginia Plan:
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Bicameral Legislature: Two houses of Congress.
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One elected by the people.
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The other chosen by state legislatures.
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Representation by Population: States with more people would have more representatives.
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Strong National Government: More power for the central government compared to the states.
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Three Branches of Government: Legislative, executive, and judicial branches.
In short, the Virginia Plan wanted a strong government where big states had more influence.
The New Jersey Plan: Equal Representation
The New Jersey Plan was presented by William Paterson of New Jersey. Smaller states feared that the Virginia Plan would make them powerless. So, they offered their own plan.
Main Points of the New Jersey Plan:
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Unicameral Legislature: Only one house of Congress.
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Equal Representation: Every state, big or small, would have the same number of representatives.
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Stronger Central Government: But still gave more power to the states than the Virginia Plan.
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Separation of Powers: It also suggested executive and judicial branches.
In short, the New Jersey Plan wanted to protect small states’ voices in government.
Virginia Plan vs. New Jersey Plan: Key Differences
| Feature | Virginia Plan | New Jersey Plan |
|---|---|---|
| Proposed By | James Madison / Edmund Randolph (Virginia) | William Paterson (New Jersey) |
| Representation | Based on population | Equal for all states |
| Legislature | Bicameral (two houses) | Unicameral (one house) |
| Power Balance | Strong national government | More power for the states |
| Supported By | Large states (e.g., Virginia, Pennsylvania) | Small states (e.g., New Jersey, Delaware) |
Example Sentences with Virginia Plan and New Jersey Plan
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The Virginia Plan gave larger states more representatives in Congress.
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The New Jersey Plan suggested equal power for all states, no matter their size.
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The fight between the Virginia Plan vs. New Jersey Plan led to the Great Compromise.
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James Madison played a big role in designing the Virginia Plan.
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William Paterson defended small states with the New Jersey Plan.
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