The small states objected to the Virginia Plan primarily because it proposed a system of representation in the national legislature based on population size. This meant the larger states would have much greater influence, while the smaller states would have less voice and less power in the government. The small states feared losing their equality and sovereignty in the new government since the Virginia Plan gave greater representation to populous states (larger states) and diminished the power of smaller states. Specifically:

• The Virginia Plan favored the interests of larger states by proposing proportional representation in a bicameral legislature, which caused smaller states to worry about being dominated by the larger states.
• Small states preferred equal representation regardless of population, as they wanted to preserve the voting equality they had under the Articles of Confederation.
• Delegates from smaller states like New Jersey proposed the New Jersey Plan in response, which called for equal representation for each state in a unicameral legislature.
• The debate between these plans eventually led to the Connecticut Compromise (Great Compromise), which created a bicameral legislature with proportional representation in the House of Representatives and equal representation for each state in the Senate.

Thus, the core objection was that the Virginia Plan threatened to reduce smaller states' influence and political power because of its population-based representation approach.