What states supported the New Jersey Plan during the Philadelphia Convention?
The New Jersey Plan was supported by less populous states, during the Philadelphia Convention.
Overview of the New Jersey Plan
The New Jersey Plan was one of the proposals put forth during the Philadelphia Convention in 1787, where delegates gathered to draft the United States Constitution. One of the core principles of the New Jersey Plan was to ensure equal representation for all states, regardless of their population size.
Representation in Congress:
Instead of the number of votes in Congress being based on each state's population, the New Jersey Plan advocated for each state to have one vote. This was seen as a way to prevent larger, more populous states from dominating the decision-making process in the national legislature.
Structure of Government:
The New Jersey Plan proposed a unicameral legislature, meaning a one-house system, with equal representation from all states. This was in contrast to the Virginia Plan, which favored a bicameral legislature with representation based on population size.
National Administration:
Under the New Jersey Plan, the national administration would be chosen by the national legislature, ensuring that the executive branch was accountable to the legislative branch. This setup aimed to balance power and prevent any one branch from becoming too dominant.
Preservation of Government Structure:
While the New Jersey Plan sought to address the weaknesses of the existing government structure established by the Articles of Confederation, it also aimed to preserve certain aspects of that structure. The Plan added authority for the national government to generate revenue, control trade, and manage foreign affairs, while still maintaining the decentralized nature of government.
In conclusion, the New Jersey Plan presented a vision of government that prioritized equal representation among states and aimed to strike a balance between centralized authority and state autonomy. While it was ultimately not adopted in its original form, elements of the New Jersey Plan influenced the final framework of the United States Constitution.