The Constitutional Convention gathered in Philadelphia to revise and enlarge the Articles of Confederation. The scope of the resolutions, going with the Articles of Confederation broadening the debate to encompass fundamental revisions to the structure and powers of the national government. One issue facing the convention was whether large and small states would be represented in the legislature, by equal representation for each state, besides of its size and population or proportionate to population, with larger states having more votes than less populated states. Under the Articles of Confederation, each state was represented in Congress by one vote.
On May 29 1787 the Virginia delegate Edmund Randolph said what would be the Virginia plan. Written by Virginian James Madison, the plan traced the broad outlines of what would become the U.S.A Constitution. One with members elected by the people for three year terms and the other composed of older leaders elected by the state legislatures for seven year terms. Both would use population as a basis for dividing seats among the states. The Virginia plan is important to our history because it was the maker of the U.S.A constitution of what would become of the U.S.A., written by James Madison. The articles gave power to the national government to declare war and