The small states opposed the Virginia Plan primarily because it favored larger states in the distribution of representation in Congress. The Virginia Plan proposed a legislative structure that included two houses, both of which would have representation based on population. This meant that states with larger populations, such as Virginia and Pennsylvania, would have significantly more representatives compared to smaller states like Delaware and Rhode Island.
Small states feared that under the Virginia Plan, their interests would be overshadowed by the larger states, leading to unequal power dynamics in the new government. They worried that legislation could be passed that would benefit only the populous states, leaving the smaller states with little influence or protection of their interests. As a response to these concerns, smaller states pushed for an alternative called the New Jersey Plan, which proposed equal representation for each state regardless of size. This clash between large and small states highlighted the ongoing debate about how to create a fair and representative government during the Constitutional Convention.