Question

select the correct answer.
which belief was generally held by the delegates to the constitutional convention of 1787?
a. a stronger central government was necessary to maintain order.
b. slavery should be abolished.
c. the principles of government should be firm and unchangeable.
d. the rule of kings is superior to the rule of the law.
e. the articles of confederation should not be greatly changed.

Explanation:

To determine the correct answer, we analyze each option in the context of the Constitutional Convention of 1787:

• Option A: Many delegates believed a stronger central government was necessary to address the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation and maintain order.
• Option B: The abolition of slavery was not a widely held belief among delegates at this time (slavery was a contentious issue but not a central belief of the majority for abolition then).
• Option C: The principles of government were being revised, and the idea of unchangeable principles was not a dominant belief (the Convention was about creating a flexible framework).
• Option D: The rule of law over the rule of kings was already established with the rejection of monarchy after the Revolution, so this was not a central belief of the 1787 delegates.
• Option E: The Articles of Confederation were seen as ineffective, and many delegates wanted to replace or greatly modify them, so this belief was not held.

Answer:

A. A stronger central government was necessary to maintain order