The Exciting Debate on Representation in Congress

During the debate on representation in Congress, Rhode Island would have supported the New Jersey Plan. This plan called for equal representation for all states in a unicameral legislature, where each state would have one vote. The rationale behind Rhode Island's support for the New Jersey Plan was to ensure that smaller states would not be outweighed by larger states with more population.

The New Jersey Plan

The New Jersey Plan was put forward as an alternative to the Virginia Plan during the Constitutional Convention of 1787. It proposed a unicameral legislature where each state would have equal representation, regardless of size or population. This appealed to states like Rhode Island that feared being marginalized by larger states in decision-making processes.

Rhode Island believed that the New Jersey Plan would safeguard their interests and prevent them from being overruled by states with greater populations. This equal representation approach resonated with smaller states, creating a strong argument for its support over the Virginia Plan.