What was the proposal that called for a unicameral legislature with equal representation for each state?

The correct answer is the New Jersey Plan. This proposal was put forth during the Constitutional Convention in 1787 and aimed to address the concerns of smaller states regarding their representation in the new government. The New Jersey Plan called for a unicameral legislature where each state would have an equal number of representatives, ensuring that smaller states would not be overshadowed by larger states, which could dominate a legislature based on population size.

By advocating for equal representation, the New Jersey Plan sought to maintain a balance of power among the states, preserving the interests of those with smaller populations. This proposal was in direct response to the Virginia Plan, which advocated for a bicameral legislature based on population, thus favoring larger states.

The Connecticut Compromise later merged elements from both plans, providing for a bicameral legislature with proportional representation in the House of Representatives and equal representation in the Senate. The Land Ordinance, on the other hand, was unrelated to issues of representation; it dealt with the management and sale of lands in the Northwest Territory.