History quiz

What were somethings the delegates agreed on at convention?

The delegates at the Constitutional Convention of 1787 agreed on several key principles that shaped the new Constitution. Some of the most important agreements included:

1. A strong central government: The delegates agreed that the new federal government should have the authority to regulate interstate commerce, raise taxes, and negotiate with foreign countries. This represented a significant shift from the Articles of Confederation, which had created a very weak central government.

2. Separation of powers: The delegates also agreed that the powers of the federal government should be divided among three branches: the legislative branch (Congress), the executive branch (the President), and the judicial branch (the Supreme Court). This separation of powers was designed to prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful.

3. Checks and balances: In addition to separating the powers of the three branches of government, the delegates also established a system of checks and balances. This system allows each branch of government to limit the power of the other branches. For example, the President can veto laws passed by Congress, but Congress can override a presidential veto with a two-thirds vote.

4. Federalism: The delegates agreed that the new government should be a federal system, in which power is shared between the federal government and the states. This federalist system was designed to protect the sovereignty of the states and ensure that the federal government did not become too powerful.

5. Bill of Rights: The delegates also agreed to include a Bill of Rights in the new Constitution. The Bill of Rights protects individual liberties, such as freedom of speech, religion, and assembly.

These are just some of the most important agreements that the delegates reached at the Constitutional Convention. These agreements laid the foundation for the new Constitution, which has served as the supreme law of the United States for over two centuries.