What was the New Jersey Plan?

The New Jersey Plan was indeed a proposal for a unicameral legislature where each state would have equal representation, regardless of the state's population size. This plan emerged during the Constitutional Convention of 1787 as a response from smaller states that feared losing influence in a government structure dominated by larger states.

The essence of the New Jersey Plan was to maintain the one-state, one-vote principle that was present under the Articles of Confederation, which helped these smaller states feel their interests would not be overshadowed by larger states. By advocating for equal representation, the New Jersey Plan sought to ensure that all states retained a fair voice in the legislative process, promoting a sense of unity among states of varying sizes.

The other options represent different ideas for structuring the legislative branch but do not accurately reflect the focus of the New Jersey Plan. For example, a bicameral legislature based on population aligns more closely with the Virginia Plan, catering to the interests of larger states, while combining both small and large state interests refers to the Great Compromise, which was a result of negotiations between the two plans. The reference to a plan addressing slavery in representation is more pertinent to the Three-Fifths Compromise, which emerged after discussions around representation and slavery in state