What was the primary task assigned to the delegates who met in Philadelphia in \(1787\)?
Their original mission was to revise the Articles of Confederation, but they ultimately decided to write an entirely new constitution.
What was the name of the first governing document of the United States after independence?
The Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union.
Identify a critical weakness of the Articles of Confederation concerning federal finances.
The national government lacked the power to levy taxes directly. It could only request money from the states, which they often failed to provide.
Which rebellion in Massachusetts exposed the inability of the national government to maintain order under the Articles?
Shays' Rebellion, an uprising of debt-ridden farmers.
What was the specific cause of Shays' Rebellion?
Massachusetts farmers were facing high taxes, debt, and property foreclosures. The rebellion highlighted the economic instability of the era.
Who was unanimously elected to serve as the president of the Constitutional Convention?
George Washington.
How many of the \(13\) original states sent delegates to the Constitutional Convention?
\(12\) states. Rhode Island refused to send delegates, fearing a powerful central government.
What was the Annapolis Convention of \(1786\)?
A precursor to the Constitutional Convention, called to address interstate trade issues. Its low attendance demonstrated the need for a broader meeting.
Why did the delegates to the Convention adopt a strict rule of secrecy?
To encourage honest and open debate without fear of public pressure or outside influence, allowing them to freely change their minds and forge compromises.
Of the \(55\) delegates who attended, how many ultimately signed the final draft of the Constitution?
\(39\) delegates signed the Constitution on September \(17\), \(1787\).
In what city and building did the Constitutional Convention take place?
In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, at the Pennsylvania State House (now known as Independence Hall).
