What was the main purpose of the Virginia Plan during the Constitutional Convention?

The Virginia Plan aimed primarily to establish a framework for a new government that featured proportional representation in Congress. This means that representation in the legislative bodies would be based on the population of each state, which was a key aspect of the plan proposed by delegates from Virginia, like James Madison. Proportional representation was sought to ensure that more populous states had a greater influence in the legislative process, reflecting their larger populations and the interests of their citizens.

This approach was in contrast to the Articles of Confederation, which had provided equal representation for states regardless of size, leading to perceived inequities and inefficiencies. By proposing a system where states with larger populations received more representatives, the Virginia Plan aimed to create a more balanced and effective legislative body that could govern effectively. This idea significantly influenced the structure of Congress as outlined in the U.S. Constitution, ultimately leading to the bicameral legislature with representation based on population in the House of Representatives, while the Senate would provide equal representation for states regardless of size.