Why Small States Championed the New Jersey Plan

At the 1787 Constitutional Convention, the New Jersey Plan (William Paterson) was the small-state counter to Virginia's population-based proposal. Small states (NJ, DE, CT, MD) favored it for five reasons:

1. Equal Representation: Unicameral Congress, one vote per state — preserving their sovereign equality regardless of population.
2. Protection Against Large-State Domination: Feared Virginia, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts would form a permanent majority under proportional representation, ignoring small-state interests.
3. State Sovereignty Primacy: The plan kept the federal government weak (limited to tax, trade, defense), leaving most power with states — aligning with the Articles of Confederation ethos.
4. Fear of "Mob Rule": Equated proportional representation with tyranny of the majority; equal suffrage was a structural check.
5. Historical Precedent: Mirrored the Continental Congress (1774–1789) where each state had one vote — a proven (if flawed) model they trusted.

The Great Compromise (Connecticut Compromise) merged the plans: proportional House, equal Senate — satisfying both sides.