Why the Virginia Plan wasn't a suitable solution to the problem of representation?
The Virginia Plan was a proposal presented by the Virginia delegation at the Constitutional Convention of 1787. It called for a bicameral legislature with representation based on population size. While the plan had its merits, there were several reasons why it was not considered a suitable solution to the problem of representation:
1. Disproportionate Representation: The Virginia Plan proposed that representation in the legislature would be based on the population of each state. This meant that larger states would have greater representation and influence compared to smaller states. Smaller states were concerned that their voices would be marginalized and that decisions would be dominated by larger states.
2. Small State Opposition: The Virginia Plan faced strong opposition from smaller states who believed that it would unfairly diminish their influence. They argued that a purely population-based system would give too much power to larger states at the expense of smaller ones. This led to the development of the New Jersey Plan, which advocated for equal representation for all states.
3. Concerns about Tyranny: Some delegates feared that a purely population-based system could lead to tyranny of the majority. They believed that the larger states would have a disproportionate influence and could potentially trample upon the rights and interests of smaller states. This concern prompted the need for a compromise that balanced the interests of both large and small states.
4. Regional Differences: The Virginia Plan did not sufficiently address the issue of regional differences within the country. States in different geographical regions often had unique concerns and interests. The plan's focus on population-based representation did not adequately account for these regional disparities, potentially leading to unequal representation and inadequate representation for certain regions.
Ultimately, the concerns and opposition to the Virginia Plan led to the development of the Connecticut Compromise, also known as the Great Compromise. This compromise proposed a bicameral legislature with equal representation in the Senate (to address the small state concerns) and representation based on population in the House of Representatives (to address the concerns of larger states). This compromise struck a balance between the two competing interests and paved the way for the eventual adoption of the United States Constitution.
Since this is not my area of expertise, I searched Google under the key words "Virginia Plan" to get these possible sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virginia_Plan
http://www.answers.com/topic/virginia-plan
http://press-pubs.uchicago.edu/founders/documents/v1ch8s7.html
http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h370.html
In the future, you can find the information you desire more quickly, if you use appropriate key words to do your own search. Also see http://hanlib.sou.edu/searchtools/.
I hope this helps, Thanks for asking.