The purpose of the New Jersey Plan, proposed in June 1787, was to support the interests of the smaller states in the nation, in opposition to Virginia's plan, which argued for a powerful national government. William Paterson, the representative of New Jersey, presented the plan during the Committee of the Whole debates, which ran from June 16 to 19.

<h3>Further explanation</h3>

Let us summarise in a few points the main differences between these two plans, which represent two opposing visions for the future of the United States.

The New Jersey plan defends a decision made by the states, the plan of Virginia defends that is the whole people who should decide thanks to the election of representatives.
The New Jersey plan wants the states to have all the same number of representatives in parliament, Virginia's plan is that larger states have more representatives than smaller ones.
The New Jersey plan prefers an executive power shared by several persons, Virginia's plan, the executive power in the hands of a single president.
The New Jersey plan wants state laws to pass the laws of the country, Virginia's plan that the laws of the country be superior to all others.

It is finally the plan of Virginia which is adopted with 7 votes against 3. So, the United States moves towards a centralized decision and powerful big states, with small states relegated to the background.

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