Final answer:
The Virginia Plan proposed a two-house legislature with both houses' representation based on population, while the Great Compromise that was later accepted featured a two-house Congress, one with equal representation (Senate) and another based on population (House of Representatives).
Step-by-step explanation:
Virginia Plan and the Great Compromise
The Virginia Plan was a blueprint for what would eventually become the U.S. Constitution's legislative branch. This plan called for a two-house legislature, with both houses' representation based on population, thus favoring larger states like Virginia. In the Virginia Plan, the lower house would be elected by the people and the upper house would be elected by the lower house, reflecting a proportional representation based on state populations.
Ultimately, the final structure of the Congress was decided by the Great Compromise, which included elements of both the Virginia Plan and the competing New Jersey Plan. The Great Compromise led to the creation of two chambers in Congress: the Senate with equal representation from each state, and the House of Representatives with representation based on population.