Who primarily benefited from the Virginia Plan?

The Virginia Plan was primarily designed to benefit large states because it proposed a system of representation in Congress that was based on population. This meant that states with larger populations would have more representatives and, consequently, more influence in the legislative process. This plan advocated for a strong central government with a bicameral legislature where both houses would utilize population as the basis for representation.

In this framework, larger states like Virginia and Pennsylvania stood to gain significant power, as they would be able to send more delegates to Congress compared to smaller states. This was in contrast to the New Jersey Plan, which sought to provide equal representation for all states, regardless of their size. The implications of the Virginia Plan ultimately led to increased political power for more populous states, shaping the structure of the U.S. government as it was established in the Constitution.