New Jersey’s Loss of Core Principles Due to the Great Compromise The Great Compromise of 1787, which led to the formation of the United States Constitution, sought to resolve the dispute between large and small states over legislative representation. While this compromise helped establish a balanced system of government, it also represented a significant loss for New Jersey, which had strongly advocated for equal representation for all states, regardless of size. The state's original political philosophy—rooted in the idea of equality and fairness in representation—was diluted by the compromise, which incorporated both proportional representation in the House of Representatives and equal representation in the Senate. For New Jersey, this resulted …show more content…
New Jersey, like other smaller states, was wary of a system in which representation in the national legislature would be based on population. Smaller states believed this would inevitably marginalize them in the decision-making process, leaving them vulnerable to the interests of larger, more populous states. The New Jersey Plan, proposed by William Patterson in 1787, embodied the state's commitment to equal representation. It called for a unicameral legislature where each state, regardless of size, would have one vote. This system was a continuation of the Articles of Confederation, under which each state was treated equally. For New Jersey, this form of representation was essential not only for maintaining a fair system of governance but also for ensuring that smaller states retained a meaningful voice in the federal government. By supporting the New Jersey Plan, the state stood firm in its belief that political equality was fundamental to a just and stable union (Patterson, 1787). The Great Compromise and Its Impact on New Jersey The Great Compromise, also known as the Connecticut Compromise, emerged from intense debates at the Constitutional