Gathered in Philadelphia, in the summer of 1787, thirty-nine of the fifty-five delegates
Group of answer choices
a. seceded from Great Britain.
b. wrote the Declaration of Independence.
c. abolished slavery.
d. amended the Articles of Confederation.
e. wrote the Pledge of Allegiance.
The correct answer and explanation is:
The correct answer is d. amended the Articles of Confederation.
In the summer of 1787, thirty-nine out of the fifty-five delegates at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia gathered to address the weaknesses of the existing government under the Articles of Confederation. The Articles, which had been adopted during the American Revolution, created a loose confederation of states but lacked a strong central government to manage national issues such as defense, trade, and taxation. The Articles were found to be ineffective in promoting national unity and handling the growing economic and political challenges.
The main goal of the Constitutional Convention was not to create a new constitution but to amend the Articles of Confederation. However, after intense debates, the delegates decided that the existing framework was too flawed to be fixed, leading them to draft an entirely new document—the United States Constitution. This new constitution created a much stronger federal government, balancing the powers of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches, and outlining the rights and responsibilities of both the national and state governments.
The new Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, by the delegates, though it required ratification by the states before it could take effect. This shift from the Articles of Confederation to the U.S. Constitution marked a pivotal moment in American history, laying the foundation for the system of government that remains in place today.
The other options—seceding from Great Britain, writing the Declaration of Independence, abolishing slavery, and writing the Pledge of Allegiance—are not accurate. These events occurred at different times and were part of different historical processes.