Which States Supported the New Jersey Plan during the Constitutional Convention?
The New Jersey Plan and Its Supporters
The New Jersey Plan, also known as the Small State Plan, was one of the proposals presented during the Constitutional Convention of 1787. This plan was put forward by William Paterson of New Jersey as an alternative to the Virginia Plan. While the Virginia Plan proposed a bicameral legislature with representation based on population, the New Jersey Plan advocated for a unicameral legislature with equal representation for each state.
During the discussions at the Constitutional Convention, four states came out in support of the New Jersey Plan. These states were:
- New York
- New Jersey
- Connecticut
- Delaware
These states, known as small states, preferred equal representation to ensure that their voices were not drowned out by larger states with more population. They were concerned that a system based solely on population would give too much power to the larger states and marginalize the smaller ones.
Why did these states support the New Jersey Plan?
These states supported the New Jersey Plan because they believed that equal representation was essential for protecting the interests of smaller states. They were worried that a system based on population alone would lead to the dominance of larger states and leave them with little influence in the new government. By advocating for equal representation in the legislature, they sought to ensure that all states, regardless of size, had an equal say in the decision-making process.