What was the purpose of the Constitutional Convention of 1787?

By the late 1780s, the U.S. was faced with an economic crisis. Shay’s Rebellion (1786–1787)

This was due to the weak national government created under the Articles of Confederation.

Constitutional Convention at Philadelphia, PA As a result, the Constitutional Convention of 1787 was called to give the national government more power. Constitutional Convention at Philadelphia, PA (May 25, 1787–September 17, 1787)

James Madison; Primary author At the Convention, the U.S. Constitution was written, creating a new plan of government for the U.S. James Madison; Primary author of the U.S. Constitution

To correct the weakness of the Articles, the Constitution created a stronger national government, made up of three branches.

The most basic principle created in the Constitution was that the people are the true source of power (popular sovereignty). “We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.” - Preamble to the Constitution

Jean-Jacques Rousseau This idea, along with other ideas found in the Constitution, came from philosophers of the Enlightenment. Baron de Montesquieu Jean-Jacques Rousseau John Locke