The New Jersey Plan was a proposal presented during the Constitutional Convention in 1787 that aimed to create a unicameral legislature where each state would have an equal vote, regardless of its population size. This plan emerged as a response to the Virginia Plan, which favored larger states by allocating representation based on population, and sought to ensure that smaller states retained significant influence in the new federal government.
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The New Jersey Plan was proposed by William Paterson as a counter to the Virginia Plan, emphasizing the need for equal representation for all states.
Under the New Jersey Plan, Congress would consist of a single house where each state would have one vote, maintaining a level playing field for smaller states.
The plan also called for more limited powers for the national government compared to what was proposed in the Virginia Plan.
Debate over the New Jersey Plan highlighted the significant tension between large and small states during the Constitutional Convention.
Ultimately, the New Jersey Plan played a crucial role in shaping discussions that led to the Great Compromise, establishing a balance of power in legislative representation.
Review Questions
How did the New Jersey Plan address the concerns of smaller states during the Constitutional Convention?
The New Jersey Plan specifically aimed to protect the interests of smaller states by proposing a unicameral legislature in which each state would have equal representation regardless of its population size. This approach was a direct response to the Virginia Plan's population-based representation, which threatened to diminish the influence of smaller states in the new federal structure. By ensuring that all states had an equal voice in Congress, it sought to maintain their significance in governance.
What were some key differences between the New Jersey Plan and the Virginia Plan, and how did these differences reflect broader debates about representation?
The key difference between the New Jersey Plan and the Virginia Plan lay in their approaches to legislative representation. The New Jersey Plan proposed a unicameral legislature with equal votes per state, while the Virginia Plan favored a bicameral legislature with representation based on population. These differences reflected broader debates about power dynamics among states; larger states supported population-based representation to enhance their influence, while smaller states feared being overshadowed and pushed for equal representation to secure their interests.
Evaluate how the outcomes from discussions around the New Jersey Plan influenced the creation of the Great Compromise and shaped American legislative structure.
Discussions surrounding the New Jersey Plan were pivotal in leading to the Great Compromise, which blended ideas from both this plan and the Virginia Plan. The compromise established a bicameral legislature consisting of the House of Representatives, with representation based on population, and the Senate, where each state would have equal representation. This dual structure not only resolved disputes between large and small states but also laid foundational principles for American governance by ensuring both proportional and equal representation within Congress.
A proposal for a bicameral legislature with representation based on state population, favoring larger states and laying the groundwork for a more robust national government.
A legislative body composed of two chambers or houses, which was part of the compromise reached at the Constitutional Convention between the New Jersey Plan and the Virginia Plan.
The agreement reached during the Constitutional Convention that established a bicameral legislature, combining elements of both the New Jersey and Virginia Plans.