The Differences Between Supporters of the Virginia Plan and New Jersey Plan

Supporters of the Virginia Plan

The supporters of the Virginia Plan differed from the supporters of the New Jersey Plan in several key ways. The Virginia Plan called for three branches of government and two houses of Congress. Representation in each house would be determined by population. This meant that states with larger populations would have more representatives in the government. James Madison, often referred to as the "Father of the Constitution," was instrumental in writing the Virginia Plan.

Supporters of the New Jersey Plan

On the other hand, the supporters of the New Jersey Plan advocated for a different system. The New Jersey Plan also supported the idea of three branches of government, but it proposed a single house of Congress where each state would have equal representation regardless of the size of its population. This meant that smaller states would have the same influence as larger states in the legislative process. William Paterson was a key figure in presenting the New Jersey Plan as an alternative to the Virginia Plan.

Explanation

The main distinction between the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan lay in the allocation of representation in the government. The Virginia Plan favored a system where representation was based on population, giving more power to states with larger populations. On the other hand, the New Jersey Plan sought to ensure equal representation for all states, regardless of their size. This difference in approach to representation was a point of contention during the debates over the country's governing framework.

How did supporters of the virginia plan and new jersey plan differ?

Yes they differ because the supporters of the Virginia Plan called for three branches of government and two houses of Congress. Representation in each house would be determined by population. The supporters of the New Jersey Plan supports the three branches of government and a single house of Congress. Each state would have an equal vote.

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