Jonah Patel
The New Jersey Plan was one of two competing proposals for the structure and functioning of the US government, introduced at the Constitutional Convention in 1787. Proposed by William Paterson, the plan called for equal representation for states in a unicameral legislature, which would have maintained the Congress of the Confederation but substantially expanded its power. The plan was intended to benefit small states such as New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland, and was in direct opposition to the Virginia Plan, which would have given larger states a greater share of power. Despite significantly expanding Congress's power, the New Jersey Plan was rejected, leading to the Connecticut Compromise, which combined elements of both plans to create the current structure of Congress.
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What You'll Learn
The New Jersey Plan's purpose
The New Jersey Plan was one of two competing proposals for the structure and functioning of the United States government, introduced at the Constitutional Convention in 1787 in Philadelphia. Proposed by William Paterson, the head of the New Jersey delegation, the plan aimed to benefit small states such as New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland.
The plan's most significant proposal called for equal representation for states in a unicameral legislature, ensuring that states with larger populations, such as New York and Virginia, would not be awarded a greater number of representatives and, consequently, a greater share of power. This reflected the belief that the states were independent entities and had voluntarily entered the United States individually, retaining their autonomy.
The New Jersey Plan also sought to expand the powers of Congress. It proposed that Congress should be authorised to raise funds through tariffs, stamp taxes, and postage, with tax evaders tried in state courts and given the right to appeal to a Federal judiciary. Additionally, the plan suggested that Congress should have the power to regulate interstate commerce and commerce with other nations.
The New Jersey Plan was introduced in response to the Virginia Plan, which had been presented earlier at the convention by delegates from Virginia, notably including Edmund Randolph, the state's governor, and largely written by James Madison. The Virginia Plan proposed a bicameral legislative branch, with an upper and lower house, where representation was apportioned based on state population. This would have given larger states a clear advantage in steering national policy.
The New Jersey Plan was ultimately rejected at the Constitutional Convention, with seven votes against, three in favour, and one divided. However, the debates surrounding the plan led to a compromise that shaped the structure of Congress today. This compromise, known as the Connecticut Compromise or the Great Compromise, combined elements of both the New Jersey and Virginia Plans, resulting in a bicameral legislature with a House of Representatives apportioned based on population and a Senate where each state has equal representation.
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The plan's proposals
The New Jersey Plan was introduced by William Paterson, the head of the New Jersey delegation, on June 15, 1787, at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia. The plan was designed to benefit small states such as New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland by addressing the issue of equal representation in Congress.
The plan consisted of nine resolutions:
- The Articles of Confederation should be revised to address the needs of the government and ensure the preservation of the Union.
- The Confederation Congress should be authorized to raise funds through various means, including taxing imports, stamp taxes, and postage. Tax evasion cases would be tried in state courts, with an option to appeal to a Federal judiciary.
- Requests by Congress for additional funds from the states beyond what is raised by Federal taxes should be apportioned based on free population plus three-fifths of the slave population. A method for collecting from delinquent states should also be established.
- Each state was to have equal representation in the legislature, regardless of their population.
- The Congress of the Confederation would be maintained but its powers would be expanded.
- Congress would gain the authority to regulate interstate commerce and commerce with other nations.
- The Articles of Confederation should be amended to include the new powers and ensure a stronger central government.
- The plan aimed to provide a compromise between the large and small states by combining elements of the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan.
- The resulting agreement became a crucial component of the United States Constitution, superseding the Articles of Confederation in June 1788 after ratification by nine states.
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The plan's author
The New Jersey Plan was introduced by William Paterson, the head of the New Jersey delegation, on June 15, 1787. Paterson had previously served as New Jersey's first attorney general and worked as a lawyer. He was one of five delegates from New Jersey.
Paterson proposed the plan with the assistance of Connecticut's Roger Sherman, Maryland's David Brearley and Luther Martin, and New York's John Lansing. The New Jersey Plan was intended to benefit small states such as New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland. It was designed to keep an equal vote in Congress for each state, regardless of population size.
Following the defeat of the New Jersey Plan, Paterson continued to advocate strongly for the ratification of the Constitution in New Jersey. After it was ratified, he became one of the state's first senators and, later, an associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, nominated by President George Washington.
Paterson's proposals were ultimately reconciled with those of James Madison through the Connecticut Compromise, which combined elements of each to create the current structure of Congress: a Senate in which states have equal representation regardless of population, and a House of Representatives in which representation is apportioned based on population.
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The plan's outcome
The New Jersey Plan was rejected at the Constitutional Convention, with seven states voting against, three voting in favour, and one divided. However, the plan's proposals regarding the structure of Congress were not entirely dismissed. The plan's author, William Paterson, advocated for the ratification of the Constitution in New Jersey, and subsequently became one of the state's first senators.
The New Jersey Plan's most significant proposal was for equal representation for states in a unicameral legislature, thereby preventing larger states from having a greater number of representatives and more power. This was in direct contrast to the Virginia Plan, which proposed that membership in the two houses of the national legislature be allocated to each state in proportion to its population. The Virginia Plan was largely written by James Madison and presented by delegates from Virginia, including the state's governor, Edmund Randolph.
The debate over the two plans centred on proportional representation, with less populous states fearing that their interests would be overshadowed by those of larger states if representation was based on population. The New Jersey Plan aimed to address this by providing each state with equal representation in the legislature, regardless of population. This reflected the belief that the states were independent entities that had voluntarily entered the United States individually and retained their autonomy.
Following the rejection of both the New Jersey Plan and the Virginia Plan, delegates continued to debate representation and the concerns of less populous states. This led to the Connecticut Compromise, which combined elements of both plans to create the current structure of Congress: a Senate in which states have equal representation, and a House of Representatives in which representation is based on population. This compromise addressed the concerns of both larger and smaller states and became a crucial component of the United States Constitution, superseding the Articles of Confederation in June 1788 after ratification by nine states.
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The plan's legacy
The New Jersey Plan's legacy is evident in the structure of the US Congress and Constitution, despite the plan itself being rejected. The plan's author, William Paterson, proposed a unicameral legislature with equal representation for each state, regardless of population size. This was in direct contrast to the Virginia Plan, which proposed representation proportional to state population, giving larger states more power.
The New Jersey Plan's rejection led to the Connecticut Compromise, which reconciled the two opposing plans. This compromise created the current structure of the US Congress: a Senate with equal representation for each state and a House of Representatives with representation based on population. This ensured that smaller states had a voice in the Senate, while also reflecting the population distribution across the country in the House.
The debates surrounding the New Jersey Plan also influenced the Three-Fifths Compromise, which addressed the issue of how enslaved people would be counted in representation and taxation. This compromise, included in the final Constitution, counted enslaved people as three-fifths of a person for these purposes, impacting the power dynamics in Congress.
The New Jersey Plan's legacy can also be seen in the expanded powers of Congress. Although the plan proposed a significant expansion of Congress's powers, it was not sufficient to gain support from larger states. However, the debates around the plan contributed to the understanding that the Articles of Confederation needed amendments to strengthen the central government and address its flaws.
The plan's impact extended beyond the structural and procedural aspects of government. It played a role in shaping the political landscape, with delegates from smaller states remaining firmly opposed to the Virginia Plan even after the New Jersey Plan's rejection. The debates and compromises that emerged from this contest of ideas helped forge a path toward a more unified nation, even as disagreements persisted.
In conclusion, while the New Jersey Plan itself was not adopted, its proposals and the subsequent discussions left an indelible mark on the US Constitution and the functioning of the American political system. The plan's legacy is evident in the structure of Congress, the expansion of congressional powers, the Three-Fifths Compromise, and the ongoing debates about representation and the role of the central government.
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Frequently asked questions
The New Jersey Plan was one of two competing proposals for the structure and functioning of the US government, introduced at the Constitutional Convention in 1787. It was designed to benefit small states and proposed a unicameral legislature with equal representation for each state, regardless of population size.
The New Jersey Plan was proposed as an alternative to the Virginia Plan, which would have given larger states a greater share of power. Small state delegates were alarmed by this prospect and so William Paterson, with assistance from delegates of other small states, proposed the New Jersey Plan.
The New Jersey Plan was rejected at the Constitutional Convention, with seven votes against and three in favour. However, it led to a compromise that created the federal government and the current structure of Congress: a Senate with equal representation for each state, and a House of Representatives with representation based on population.
