The Virginia Plan would have granted more power to the national government, particularly favoring larger states in representation. Proposed at the Constitutional Convention in 1787, this plan aimed to create a stronger federal structure, replacing the Articles of Confederation.
Under the Virginia Plan, the legislature would consist of two houses, with representation based on a state’s population, thus giving more populous states like Virginia and Pennsylvania a greater influence in Congress compared to smaller states. This proposal was designed to ensure that the federal government could effectively address issues that the weaker Articles could not, such as regulation of commerce and enforcement of laws.
Ultimately, the Virginia Plan sparked significant debate and led to the Great Compromise, which balanced the needs of both large and small states by creating a bicameral legislature with different modes of representation in each house.