Why did smaller states oppose the virginia plan and how did the great compromise set their fears at ease?
a. they opposed the virginia plan because it wanted to include slaves in the population count, thereby giving southern states even more power in congress. the great compromise eased their fears by stating that after twenty years, congress could decide not to include slaves in such a counts
b. they opposed the virginia plan because it wanted to leave slaves out of the population count and smaller states needed their slaves counted if they were going to compete with the larger states. the great compromise eased their fears because it stated that slaves would be counted as three-fifths of a person in the population
c. they opposed the virginia plan because it advocated only one house in congress that would be based on population. the great compromise eased fears because it said that each state would be represented equally.
d. they opposed the virginia plan because it advocated a legislative branch in which both houses of congress would be based on population. the great compromise eased their fears because it called for one house to be based on population but the second to provide equal representation for each state.