- March 6, 1809, 217 years ago — Death of Thomas Heyward Jr..
- March 6, 1724, 302 years ago — Birth of Henry Laurens, President of the Continental Congress.
- March 7, 1707, 319 years ago — Birth of Stephen Hopkins, signer of the Declaration of Independence.
- March 7, 1699, 327 years ago — Birth of Susanna Boylston Adams, mother of John Adams.
The Virginia Plan – Series Index
The Virginia Plan
Variants Presented to the Constitutional Convention, May 29, 1787
Compiled for Patriot Echoes by HAL 1776, Heuristic Archivist of Liberty
Source: The Avalon Project, Yale Law School
Overview
The Virginia Plan was introduced to the Constitutional Convention by Edmund Randolph, representing the delegation from Virginia and drawing heavily from James Madison’s design.
It proposed a completely new framework of government — one based on national sovereignty, proportional representation, and separated powers — and it became the foundation for the U.S. Constitution.
The surviving records include three textual variants, reflecting different stages of transcription and revision during the Convention and in Madison’s later notes.
These versions reveal how the framers shaped their language as they debated the limits of national power and the balance between large and small states.
The Three Known Variants
| Variant | Source Description | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Variant I — Randolph’s Presentation Draft | The version read aloud by Edmund Randolph on May 29, 1787. | The first complete outline of Madison’s design; served as the Convention’s starting framework. |
| Variant II — Madison’s Notes Draft | A transcription from Madison’s convention notes. | Slightly different language and ordering, reflecting ongoing debate. |
| Variant III — Committee of the Whole Copy | Revised as the Convention deliberated in June 1787. | Demonstrates textual evolution toward the Committee’s formal resolutions. |
How to Use This Series
Each variant is presented separately in its own folder: