The New Jersey Plan was proposed during the Constitutional Convention of 1787, where delegates from each state were creating their new government. One of the plans proposed at the Conventional Convention was the Virginia Plan. This plan was written by James Madison, who grew up on a wealthy plantation in Virginia. The plan stipulated that the government should be divided into three branches to maintain equal power throughout the government. While it looked flawless, there was one factor that displeased the smaller state. He said the government should use proportional representation, which is when the vote would be based on the number of delegates present. This was a problem for smaller states because then those states would not have the same percentage of the vote as larger states. In response to the Virginia Plan, William Patterson created the New Jersey Plan (sometimes called the Patterson Plan) to give a uniform amount of votes throughout the colonies. It was also based on the Articles of Confederation, that is, “it was a proposal for a 'revision' of the Articles of Confederation.” This was the original constitution for the government that was to follow after the Revolutionary War. The document stated generally that Congress should be able to create taxes. Congress should also be allowed to “regulate interstate commerce.” The executive and judicial branches would be created under the New Jersey Plan. The executive branch could choose members of the judiciary, who would then serve for life. The New Jersey Plan also stated that there should be voting equality in all states, meaning that each state should have the same amount of votes as all other states. The document also stated that ... middle of paper ... stem, larger states would easily gain more power than smaller states, which could lead to total chaos. Without the New Jersey Plan, the government and the nation would not be as strong as they are now. The New Jersey Plan helped cause tension during the Constitutional Convention and made a stronger nation because of it. Works Cited Cayton, Andrew RL, Elisabeth Israels. Perry, Linda Reed, and Allan M. Winkler. “The New Jersey Plan.” Prentice Hall America: Paths to the Present. Boston, MA: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2007. 152-53. Print.Commager, Henry Steele. “Plan for New Jersey.” Documents of American history. vol. Vo. 1. New York: Appleton-Century-Crofts, 1968. 136-37. Print.Saturday, Larry and Howard R. Ernst. “Plan for New Jersey.” Encyclopedia of American Political Parties and Elections. New York: Facts On File, 2006. Page No. Press.