Which states were more likely to support the Virginia Plan?

The Virginia Plan was a proposal for the structure of the United States government presented at the Constitutional Convention in 1787. It called for a strong central government with a system of checks and balances, a bicameral legislature with representation based on state population, and an executive branch led by a president.

The correct answer highlights that large states were more likely to support this plan due to its emphasis on representation based on population. States with larger populations would benefit significantly from the Virginia Plan, as they would secure more representatives in the legislature and therefore have a greater influence on federal laws and policies. This made the plan appealing particularly to states like Virginia, Pennsylvania, and New York, which had larger populations compared to smaller states.

In contrast, smaller states opposed the Virginia Plan because they feared losing political power and influence in a system that favored larger populations. They preferred the New Jersey Plan, which proposed equal representation for all states regardless of size. This fundamental conflict between the interests of large and small states led to significant debates and the eventual creation of the Great Compromise, which balanced both population-based and equal representation in the legislative branch.