Why New Jersey Delegates Didn't Support the Virginia Plan?
The Virginia Plan vs The New Jersey Plan
In the early days of the United States, there was fierce debate among the states about how the new government should be structured. One of the most contentious issues was the question of representation in the national legislature. The Virginia Plan, proposed by James Madison, called for a bicameral legislature with representation based on population. This meant that larger states would have more power in the government.
On the other hand, the New Jersey Plan, proposed by William Paterson, called for a unicameral legislature with each state having equal representation. This meant that each state, regardless of size, would have an equal say in the government.
The Concerns of the New Jersey Delegates
The New Jersey delegates did not support the Virginia Plan because they believed it gave too much power to the larger states. They were concerned that under the Virginia Plan, the smaller states would be overshadowed by the larger states and their voices would not be heard in the national government.
Compromise and the Great Compromise
To address the concerns of the New Jersey delegates and reach a compromise between the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan, the delegates at the Constitutional Convention proposed the Great Compromise. This compromise called for a bicameral legislature with the House of Representatives based on population (as in the Virginia Plan) and the Senate with equal representation for each state (as in the New Jersey Plan).
The Great Compromise was ultimately accepted and became a key part of the United States Constitution, ensuring that both the large and small states had a voice in the new government.
Why did the New Jersey delegates not support the Virginia Plan?
Answer: The New Jersey delegates believed it gave too much power to the larger states.
Explanation: The New Jersey delegates were concerned that the Virginia Plan, with its representation based on population, would marginalize the smaller states and their interests. They feared that the larger states would dominate the government and the smaller states would not have a fair say in the decision-making process.