Table of Contents
Who proposed the New Jersey Plan?
William Paterson
John Trumballs’ The Signing of the Declaration of Independence is one of the best known images of the second Continental Congress, signed in the same room where William Paterson proposed in “The New Jersey Plan” eleven years later.
What was the government plan drafted by James Madison?
Introduced to the Constitutional Convention in 1787, James Madison’s Virginia Plan outlined a strong national government with three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial. The plan called for a legislature divided into two bodies (the Senate and the House of Representatives) with proportional representation.
Who supported the small state plan?
Large states supported this plan, while smaller states generally opposed it. Under the New Jersey Plan, the unicameral legislature with one vote per state was inherited from the Articles of Confederation. This position reflected the belief that the states were independent entities.
Did federalists support the New Jersey Plan?
During this time, many compromises were formed to appease regional factions. The Great Compromise brought together the New Jersey Plan and the Virginia Plan to create the Constitution ‘s legislative system. The Federalists did not want a bill of rights —they thought the new constitution was sufficient.
Who was in the New Jersey Plan?
William Paterson (1745–1806) presented a plan of government to the Convention that came to be called the “New Jersey Plan.” Paterson wanted to retain a unicameral (one-house) legislature with equal votes of states and have the national legislature elect the executive.
Why do you think small states were against the Virginia Plan?
The smaller states opposed the Virginia Plan because the resolution for proportional representation would mean that smaller states would have less say in government than the larger states. If the Virginia Plan was agreed each state would have a different number of representatives based on the state’s population.
How was the new government structured?
In 1787, fifty-five men gathered in Philadelphia to determine a new national structure of government. This new structure consisted of three branches instead of just one, and diffused power by delegating different responsibilities to each branch.
What group wrote the Articles of Confederation?
Continental Congress
| Articles of Confederation | |
|---|---|
| Superseded | March 4, 1789, by the United States Constitution |
| Location | National Archives |
| Author(s) | Continental Congress |
| Signatories | Continental Congress |
Who signed Articles of Confederation?
The Articles of Confederation contain thirteen articles and a conclusion. They were signed by forty-eight people from the thirteen states. Signers included Samuel Adams, John Dickinson, Elbridge Gerry, John Hancock, Richard Henry Lee, Gouverneur Morris, Robert Morris, Roger Sherman, and John Witherspoon.
Why did small states favor the New Jersey Plan?
The goal was for smaller states to have the same level of power in the legislature as the large states. The New Jersey Plan, like the Virginia Plan, also called for Separation of Powers consisting of legislative, executive, and judicial branches.
Why were small states against the Virginia Plan?
Virginia’s Plan was based on population. The larger states favored this plan because it would give them more representation in Congress. Why did small states dislike the Virginia Plan? Small states has smaller populations, which meant that they were have a smaller presence in Congress, and a smaller influence.