At the Philadelphia (Constitutional) Convention, what do you see as the general goal of
the majority of the delegates? Did the nationallist (central govenrment) theme proposed
by James Madison make more sense than the old Confederation govenrment?
The general goal of the majority of the delegates at the Philadelphia (Constitutional) Convention was to draft a new constitution that would create a stronger and more unified central government for the United States. The delegates recognized the limitations and weaknesses of the existing government under the Articles of Confederation, which had limited powers and lacked the ability to effectively govern the nation.
James Madison, often considered the "Father of the Constitution," was a strong advocate for a more centralized government. He believed that a strong national government was necessary to address the challenges facing the young nation, such as maintaining order, protecting individual rights, regulating commerce, and managing relations with foreign nations. Madison's proposal for a nationalist (central) government, as outlined in the Virginia Plan, included features such as a bicameral legislature, with representation based on the population of each state, as well as a system of checks and balances among the three branches of government.
The nationalist theme proposed by Madison made more sense than the old Confederation government in the eyes of many delegates because it offered a more effective and balanced system of governance. The weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation had become evident, including the inability to raise revenue, maintain a standing army, or regulate interstate commerce. These shortcomings hindered the ability of the national government to solve problems and preserve the stability of the country.
Madison's proposed structure of government sought to address these shortcomings by granting more power to the national government while still protecting the rights of the states through checks and balances. This approach aimed to strike a balance between a centralized government capable of addressing national issues and the preservation of state sovereignty. Ultimately, the majority of the delegates recognized the need for a stronger central government and worked together to create the United States Constitution, which successfully replaced the Articles of Confederation.