At the 1787 Constitutional Convention in the United States, what did the New Jersey Plan propose regarding representation in the national legislature?

Introduction / Context:
During the Constitutional Convention of 1787 in Philadelphia, delegates from the states debated how the new United States government should be structured. One of the central questions was how states should be represented in the national legislature. The New Jersey Plan, presented by smaller states, offered one answer to this problem. This question checks whether you understand the main feature of that plan regarding representation.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The setting is the 1787 Constitutional Convention, where the Articles of Confederation were being reconsidered.
• The specific proposal is the New Jersey Plan, backed by smaller states.
• The options include various proposals about slavery, presidential power, replacing the Articles, and representation.
• You must choose the option that correctly describes what the New Jersey Plan called for in terms of representation.

Concept / Approach:
The New Jersey Plan was a response to the Virginia Plan. The Virginia Plan favored representation based on population, which benefited larger states. In contrast, the New Jersey Plan defended the interests of smaller states by calling for equal representation of each state in the national legislature, similar to the system under the Articles of Confederation. This would mean that each state, large or small, would have the same number of votes. The plan did not primarily focus on abolishing slavery or greatly expanding presidential power.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that the central dispute was between large and small states over how many representatives each state should have.Step 2: Remember that the New Jersey Plan came from smaller states such as New Jersey and others that feared losing influence.Step 3: The plan proposed a unicameral legislature with each state having equal representation, similar to the system under the Articles of Confederation.Step 4: Compare this with the other options. Calls for strong presidential powers, immediate abolition of slavery, or total abandonment of the Articles in favor of a completely new system are not the main points of the New Jersey Plan.Step 5: Select the option that states equal representation for all states in the national Congress, which captures the key idea.

Verification / Alternative check:
Summaries of the Constitutional Convention often contrast the Virginia Plan, the New Jersey Plan, and the eventual Connecticut or Great Compromise. The Virginia Plan favored representation based on population, the New Jersey Plan favored equal state representation, and the Great Compromise created a bicameral Congress with one house using population and the other using equal representation. This well known pattern confirms that equal representation is the main feature of the New Jersey Plan.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
The immediate abolition of slavery was not a central proposal of the New Jersey Plan, and the Convention largely postponed a direct solution to slavery.
A very strong president with wide powers was not the key concern of the small states in the New Jersey Plan; they were primarily worried about legislative representation.
Abandoning the Articles of Confederation entirely and replacing them with a completely new system describes the broader goal of the Convention but not the specific content of the New Jersey Plan, which sought to amend the Articles while keeping equal state votes.

Common Pitfalls:
Learners sometimes mix up details of the various plans at the Convention or assume that any reform proposal must have attacked slavery or focused on creating a powerful president. To avoid confusion, remember that the New Jersey Plan is most closely associated with the idea of equal representation for all states. Linking this one phrase with the name of the plan makes related questions much easier to answer.

Final Answer:
The New Jersey Plan called for equal representation for all states in the national Congress.