Plans at the Constitutional
Convention
American History I
Name
Virginia Plan
Description
•Strong national
government
•3 branches
•Bicameral (two
house legislature)
•Each state’s
representation
would be
determined by by
their population
Problem
Compromise
Less populated
The Great
states did not agree Compromise
with representation
determined by a
states’ population
Name
New Jersey Plan
Description
•Semi-strong
national
government
•3 branches
•Unicameral (1
house) legislature
•Each state would
have an equal
number of
representatives
Problem
Compromise
States with large
The Great
populations did not Compromise
agree to
representation
being equal in
Congress
Name
Description
Great Compromise
•Strong national
government
•3 branches
•House of
Representatives
where each states’
representation
would be
determined by
their population
•Senate where each
state would have 2
representatives
Problem
Compromise
Name
Commerce and
Slave Trade
Compromise
Description
Northern states
wanted the new
government to
regulate trade
Problem
Compromise
Southern states
worried the new
government would
tax exports and
limit the slave trade
•The government
could regulate
trade
•But could not limit
the slave trade until
1808
Name
Description
3/5ths Compromise The southern states
wanted to count
their slaves as part
of their states
population to help
determine
representation in
the House of
Representatives
Problem
Compromise
The Northern states
did not want slaves
to count as part of
a states population
Each slave would
count as 3/5ths of a
person in
determining a
states population
Name
Electoral College
Compromise
Description
Let the people
choose the
president
Problem
Compromise
Let state
legislatures choose
the president
•People would vote
for ELECTORS
•The ELECTORS
would then
officially choose
the president