The delegates attending the Philadelphia Convention in 1787 were specifically tasked with amending the Articles of Confederation to make them a more effective form of government. They were not sent to create an entirely new government, and in fact, they largely adhered to their instructions and focused on amending the existing framework rather than discarding it completely.
Here are some specific examples of how the delegates did not disregard their instructions:
1. They kept the basic structure of the Articles of Confederation. The new Constitution preserved the concept of a federal government in which the states retain a significant degree of autonomy. It did not create a centralized or unitary state, as some delegates may have preferred.
2. The new Constitution was submitted to the states for ratification. This was in accordance with the instructions of the delegates' respective state legislatures, who had required that any amendments to the Articles of Confederation be approved by the states before becoming law.
3. The Bill of Rights was adopted as a series of amendments to the new Constitution. These amendments were a response to concerns raised by some states and individuals that the new government encroached on individual liberties and state sovereignty.
4. The delegates respected the interests of the small states. The Constitution included provisions such as equal representation in the Senate, which ensured that small states would have a voice in the new government.
5. The new government was limited in its powers. The Constitution specifically enumerated the powers of the federal government, leaving all other powers to the states.
While there were certainly disagreements and debates among the delegates at the Philadelphia Convention, the claim that they completely disregarded their instructions does not accurately reflect the historical record.