The New Jersey Plan at the Constitutional Convention

The New Jersey Plan was one of two major proposals introduced at the Constitutional Convention in 1787 to determine the structure and functioning of the United States government. The plan was presented by William Paterson, the head of the New Jersey delegation, and was designed to protect the interests of small states.

Key Facts

The New Jersey Plan was one of two major competing proposals for the structure and functioning of the United States government introduced at the Constitutional Convention in 1787.
The plan was put forth by William Paterson, the head of the New Jersey delegation, and was intended to benefit small states such as New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland.
The New Jersey Plan proposed equal representation for states in a unicameral legislature, aiming to avoid giving larger states with larger populations a greater share of power.
The plan consisted of nine resolutions, including the continuation of the unicameral system of legislature outlined under the Articles of Confederation, the establishment of an executive branch, and the creation of a federal judiciary.
The New Jersey Plan was in competition with the Virginia Plan, which called for a bicameral legislature and favored a stronger national government.
When a vote was taken on June 19, 1787, the New Jersey Plan failed to pass, and the convention instead chose the Virginia Plan.
The details of what became known as the Great Compromise, or the Connecticut Compromise, were worked out after the rejection of the New Jersey Plan, resulting in a bicameral legislature with equal representation in the Senate and proportional representation in the House of Representatives.

Provisions of the New Jersey Plan

The New Jersey Plan consisted of nine resolutions that proposed:

Continuation of the unicameral legislature established under the Articles of Confederation.
Expansion of Congress’s powers to include the authority to collect import duties and raise taxes.
Establishment of a three-fifths rule for counting enslaved people for the purpose of determining a state’s population.
Creation of an executive branch composed of multiple individuals.
Establishment of a federal judiciary appointed by the executive branch.
Declaration that acts of Congress and treaties endorsed by the central government would be considered the supreme law of the land.
Provision for the admission of new states into the union.
Establishment of universal rules for naturalization.
Declaration that citizens of all states would be equal in state criminal courts.

Comparison to the Virginia Plan

The New Jersey Plan differed significantly from the Virginia Plan, which was presented by James Madison and called for a bicameral legislature with proportional representation based on population. The Virginia Plan also favored a stronger national government, while the New Jersey Plan retained more authority for the states.

Outcome of the New Jersey Plan

When the plans were debated in June 1787, the New Jersey Plan failed to pass. The convention instead chose the Virginia Plan as the basis for further discussion. However, the New Jersey Plan’s emphasis on state equality influenced the development of the Great Compromise, which combined elements of both plans to create a bicameral legislature with equal representation in the Senate and proportional representation in the House of Representatives.

Legacy of the New Jersey Plan

The New Jersey Plan played a significant role in shaping the structure of the United States government. Its focus on state equality ensured that small states would have a voice in the new government. The Great Compromise, which incorporated elements of the New Jersey Plan, remains a fundamental aspect of the American political system.

Sources

FAQs

Where was the New Jersey Plan created?

The New Jersey Plan was created at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1787.

Who created the New Jersey Plan?

The New Jersey Plan was created by William Paterson, the head of the New Jersey delegation to the Constitutional Convention.

What were the key provisions of the New Jersey Plan?

The key provisions of the New Jersey Plan included a unicameral legislature with equal representation for all states, an executive branch composed of multiple individuals, and a federal judiciary appointed by the executive branch.

Why was the New Jersey Plan created?

The New Jersey Plan was created to protect the interests of small states, such as New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland. These states feared that they would be dominated by larger states in a government based on proportional representation.

What was the outcome of the New Jersey Plan?

The New Jersey Plan was not adopted by the Constitutional Convention. Instead, the convention chose the Virginia Plan as the basis for further discussion. However, the New Jersey Plan’s emphasis on state equality influenced the development of the Great Compromise, which combined elements of both plans to create a bicameral legislature with equal representation in the Senate and proportional representation in the House of Representatives.

What is the legacy of the New Jersey Plan?

How did the New Jersey Plan differ from the Virginia Plan?

The New Jersey Plan differed from the Virginia Plan in several key ways. First, it proposed a unicameral legislature with equal representation for all states, while the Virginia Plan proposed a bicameral legislature with proportional representation based on population. Second, the New Jersey Plan favored a weaker national government, while the Virginia Plan favored a stronger national government.

What were the strengths and weaknesses of the New Jersey Plan?

The strength of the New Jersey Plan was its focus on state equality. This ensured that small states would have a voice in the new government. However, the weakness of the New Jersey Plan was that it did not provide for a strong national government. This could have made it difficult for the new government to address national issues effectively.