The Constitutional Convention of 1787: An Overview

The Constitution of the United States has been a pivotal document in American history, both officially created and unofficially amended — but what exactly happened at the Constitutional Convention of 1787? This momentous gathering of delegates from 12 of the original 13 states holds a lot of history, and it’s worth examining what really happened!

The Delegates and Their Intention

The Constitutional Convention was created as a meeting of delegates from the different states who wanted to create a stronger, more unified central government for the United States. The main intention was to replace the Articles of Confederation, the first American constitution that was written in 1777, with a document that provided more power and authority to the young nation.The delegates at the convention were all well-educated men, with experience in politics and law, and many had served in government before.

The Formation of the Constitution

At the Constitutional Convention, the delegates worked together to create a document that would be the foundation for the American system of government for decades to come. They outlined the legislative, judicial, and executive branches of the federal government, and figured out how they would be managed — both by the federal and state governments. They also provided ways to check and balance the power of each of these branches, discussed the powers of the federal government, and established the basis for the Electoral College and the method by which the president and vice president would be elected.

More than that, however, the delegates also created a system of checks and balances to ensure that no one branch of the government could accrue too much power. After much debate and discussion, the delegates agreed on the Constitution and were ready to have it ratified.

Conclusion

The Constitutional Convention of 1787 was a pivotal moment in American history, and it can be hard to grasp the significance of what happened there. But in a nutshell, the delegates met to create a stronger, more unified central government and created the framework of the current Constitution. Despite their differences and the heated debates, they managed to create a strong and enduring document that, while having had many amendments over the years, still stands today.