What was the initial goal of the Constitutional Convention of 1787?

The initial goal of the Constitutional Convention of 1787 was to modify the Articles of Confederation. The Articles had served as the first governing document of the United States but were found to have significant weaknesses, particularly in terms of federal authority and the ability to manage issues such as commerce, taxation, and interstate relations.

Delegates met in Philadelphia with the primary intention of revising the existing framework rather than creating an entirely new constitution. As the convention progressed, it became clear that mere amendments would not suffice to address all the inadequacies of the Articles. Ultimately, this led to the drafting of a completely new Constitution to establish a stronger federal government that could address the issues facing the nation.

While drafting a new constitution did occur as a result of the convention's discussions, it was not the original intent. The creation of a Bill of Rights and a federal banking system surfaced later as significant considerations but were not primary goals at the outset of the convention.