The New Jersey Plan for the Constitution

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For five years after Revolutionary war each state basically governed themselves. Although there was national government in place, it held little power over the states. It soon became apparent that the Articles of Confederation needed to be readdressed to combat the increasing problems that were brewing in the country. The first attempt to redress was dismissed by many of the states. Nevertheless, a second attempt produced results with twelve of the states sending delegates to redress the Articles of Confederation. Several delegates submitted plans for consideration that would strengthen the national government two such plans were the Virginia and the New Jersey Plan. Despite much of Virginia’s plan being accepted, if a compromise had not been reached the New Jerseys plan would have been more workable because it offered: equal representation of the states, provided operational means to congress, and was not a radical departure from the Articles of the Confederation. To begin with the unequal representation of the states in the Virginia Plan was of great concern and controversy while the New Jersey Plan retained equal representation of the states. Virginia proposed a bicameral legislature that included elections by the people and appointments by those elected. This system used both wealth and population as a determining factor in regards to the number of seats in both houses. New Jersey on the other hand proposed single house legislature that allow each state a single vote. Votes based on population would put small states at a disadvantage. The states that were more populated would be in control of the legislative branches, leaving small states without a voice. Concerns about who was to be counted in the population also ... ... middle of paper ... ...lan workable would take agreement from the states and revenue. To get agreement from the states they would need assurance that they would have an equal voice and not be subjected to monarchy rule. In spite of the fact that most of the Virginia plan was accepted the New Jersey plan would have been more workable if a compromise had not been reached. The New Jersey Plan ensured equal representation of the states, along with way to finance the proposed government and security against monarchy rule. Furthermore it amended the Articles of Confederation rather than writing a new constitution. Considering all this coupled with the states fears of a centralized government makes the New Jersey plan more workable than the Virginia plan. Works Cited Sidney M. Milkis, Michael Nelson. The American Presidency Origins & Development, 1776-2011. Washington DC: CQ Press, 2008.

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