Who is often called the "Father of the Constitution" for his influential ideas and meticulous note-taking?
James Madison of Virginia.
What proposal, favored by large states, suggested a bicameral legislature with representation based on population?
The Virginia Plan.
Who officially presented the Virginia Plan to the Convention?
Edmund Randolph, the governor of Virginia.
Besides proportional representation, what other major feature did the Virginia Plan propose for the new government?
It called for a strong national government divided into three distinct branches: legislative, executive, and judicial.
What counter-proposal, favored by small states, was presented at the Convention?
The New Jersey Plan.
Who introduced the New Jersey Plan?
William Paterson of New Jersey.
How did the New Jersey Plan propose to structure the national legislature?
It called for a unicameral (one-house) legislature in which every state had equal representation, with one vote per state.
What was the core conflict between the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan?
The method of representation in Congress: proportional representation (by population) versus equal representation (by state).
Did the New Jersey Plan seek to create a completely new system of government?
No, it sought to amend the Articles of Confederation to give the national government more powers, such as taxation and regulation of commerce, while retaining the basic framework.
How did the Virginia Plan propose the executive branch be chosen?
It proposed that a national executive be elected by the national legislature.
