What happened at the Constitutional Convention?

The event known as the Constitutional Convention, which took place in Philadelphia in 1787, primarily focused on the creation of a new governing document for the United States. Delegates from the states convened to address the problems arising under the Articles of Confederation, which had proven to be inadequate for unified governance.

During the convention, the delegates debated and ultimately drafted what would become the United States Constitution. This new framework established the structure of government, including the legislative, executive, and judicial branches, and outlined the system of checks and balances designed to prevent any one branch from gaining too much power. This document was then presented to the states for ratification, setting the foundation for American law and governance.

The other options represent significant historical events but do not accurately describe what occurred at the Constitutional Convention. The Constitution itself was not amended at this event, and the Bill of Rights was introduced later as the first ten amendments to the Constitution to address concerns about individual liberties. Furthermore, the Declaration of Independence, a separate foundational document that established the United States' independence from British rule, was signed in 1776, well before the Constitutional Convention took place.