Compair and contrast the Virginia and New Jersey plans. Explain how these led to the "Great Compramise"
How would you like us to help you with this assignment?
By giving me examples of how I can start off
Your introductory paragraph should list three similarities and three differences between these two plans.
http://homepage.smc.edu/berman_dianne/plan.html
Ok thanx but how should I write my actual research paper like what things should I include because my teacher didn't really explain that to us and that's confusing to me
Elaborate on and explain the differences and similarities in the above website.
The Virginia and New Jersey plans were two competing proposals put forth during the Constitutional Convention of 1787, regarding the structure and representation of the newly formed United States government. These plans eventually led to the "Great Compromise" or the "Connecticut Compromise," which helped resolve the dispute between the large and small states.
1. The Virginia Plan:
The Virginia Plan was primarily introduced by James Madison and Edmund Randolph and was favored by the larger states. It proposed a strong national government with three separate branches: legislative, executive, and judicial. Here are the key features of the Virginia Plan:
- Bicameral Legislature: The plan called for a two-tiered legislative body, with representation based on population or wealth. This meant that larger states would have more representatives and greater influence.
- Proportional Representation: The number of representatives would be determined proportional to a state's population or wealth.
- Strong Central Government: The Virginia Plan emphasized a strong federal government that could override state laws if necessary.
2. The New Jersey Plan:
The New Jersey Plan, presented by William Paterson, was supported by the smaller states. It aimed to preserve the existing structure of the Articles of Confederation while strengthening the national government. Here are the key features of the New Jersey Plan:
- Unicameral Legislature: The plan proposed a single legislative body with equal representation for all states.
- Equal Representation: Each state would have an equal number of representatives to avoid the dominance of larger states.
- Federal Government Powers: The New Jersey Plan suggested expanding the powers of the federal government, allowing it to levy taxes and regulate trade.
The clash between these two plans led to a stalemate during the Constitutional Convention. To break this impasse, the "Great Compromise" was proposed by Roger Sherman of Connecticut and adopted on July 16, 1787. It merged certain elements of both plans to create a balanced and fair system of representation. Here's how it resolved the conflict:
1. Bicameral Legislature: The "Great Compromise" created a two-tiered legislative body that satisfied both Virginia and New Jersey Plan supporters.
- House of Representatives: This chamber was based on proportional representation, as favored by the Virginia Plan. The number of representatives was determined by the population of each state.
- Senate: The Senate provided equal representation, as advocated by the New Jersey Plan. Each state, regardless of size, would have an equal number of senators.
2. 3/5 Compromise: The "Great Compromise" also addressed the issue of slavery by implementing the 3/5 Compromise. It counted each enslaved person as three-fifths of a person both for representation in the House of Representatives and for taxation purposes.
In summary, the Virginia and New Jersey plans present contrasting views on representation in the national government, with the Virginia Plan favoring proportional representation and the New Jersey Plan advocating for equal representation. The "Great Compromise" emerged as a solution by blending elements of both plans, establishing a bicameral legislature with the House of Representatives based on population representation and the Senate ensuring equal representation for all states. This compromise helped prevent a deadlock during the Constitutional Convention and played a vital role in the adoption of the United States Constitution.