Virginia Plan: The Proposal that Shaped the American Government
What was the Virginia Plan and why was it proposed?
Was the Virginia Plan at the Constitutional Convention of 1787 for a bicameral legislature, where representation was based on state population and how did it impact the formation of the American government?
The Virginia Plan and Its Significance
The Virginia Plan was a proposal put forward by James Madison during the Constitutional Convention of 1787. It sought to create a strong national government with a two-house legislature, where representation in the law-making body would be determined based on each state's population.
This plan was introduced with the intention of revising the existing Articles of Confederation, which had proven to be too weak to effectively govern the newly-formed United States. The Virginia Plan aimed to address the shortcomings of the Articles and establish a more structured and efficient system of government.
Formation of the American Government
The Virginia Plan's proposal for a bicameral legislature, with representation based on state population, was a significant development in the shaping of the American government. It favored larger states with more population by giving them greater influence in the law-making process.
However, smaller states were concerned about the disproportionate power that this plan would give to larger states. In response, they presented the New Jersey Plan, which called for equal representation for all states in a unicameral legislature.
This disagreement between larger and smaller states ultimately led to the Great Compromise, where a compromise was reached by creating a two-house Congress. The House of Representatives would have representation based on population, while the Senate would have equal representation for all states.
As a result, the Virginia Plan played a crucial role in shaping the structure of the American government, establishing a balance between state power and population representation that endures to this day.