The New Jersey Plan and the Virginia Plan were two proposals for the structure of the government of the United States that were put forth at the Constitutional Convention in 1787. Both plans were designed to address the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation, which had been the governing document of the United States since its independence in 1776. However, the two plans differed significantly in their approach to the issues of representation, power, and balance of authority within the new government.
The New Jersey Plan, also known as the Small State Plan, was proposed by William Paterson of New Jersey. It called for the creation of a unicameral legislative body in which each state would be represented equally, regardless of population size. Under this plan, each state would have one vote in the legislative body, and all decisions would be made by a majority vote of the states. The New Jersey Plan also called for the creation of a weak executive branch, with a single executive chosen by the legislative body for a limited term of office. The judiciary would be appointed by the legislative body and would have limited powers.
The Virginia Plan, also known as the Large State Plan, was proposed by James Madison of Virginia. It called for the creation of a bicameral legislative body, with one chamber representing the people and the other representing the states. The people's chamber would be based on population, with each state receiving a number of representatives proportional to its population. The states' chamber would be based on equal representation, with each state receiving an equal number of representatives. The Virginia Plan also called for a strong executive branch, with an executive elected by the people for a fixed term of office. The judiciary would be appointed by the executive and confirmed by the legislative body.
The New Jersey Plan and the Virginia Plan both had their proponents and opponents at the Constitutional Convention. The Small State Plan was favored by the smaller states, which saw it as a way to protect their interests and maintain their influence within the new government. The Large State Plan, on the other hand, was favored by the larger states, which saw it as a way to ensure that the new government would be responsive to the needs of the majority of the people.
Ultimately, the Constitutional Convention reached a compromise between the two plans, known as the Great Compromise or the Connecticut Compromise. This compromise created a bicameral legislative body with the House of Representatives based on population and the Senate based on equal representation. The executive and judiciary branches were also established, with the president serving as the head of the executive branch and the Supreme Court serving as the highest court in the judiciary.
The New Jersey Plan and the Virginia Plan were two important proposals that helped shape the structure of the United States government as we know it today. While they had their differences, both plans were ultimately aimed at creating a government that was strong enough to maintain the unity and prosperity of the United States, but also balanced and responsive to the needs and concerns of all of its citizens.