What was the main purpose of the Constitutional Convention held in 1787?

The main purpose of the Constitutional Convention held in 1787 was to address the problems of the Articles of Confederation and create a new constitution. The Articles had proven ineffective in providing a strong central government, leading to issues such as economic instability, interstate disputes, and an inability to raise revenue or maintain order. Recognizing these inadequacies, delegates from various states convened in Philadelphia with the intent of revising the existing framework. However, the discussions ultimately resulted in the drafting of an entirely new Constitution, which established a stronger federal government and introduced a system of checks and balances among the branches of government.

The other choices do not accurately represent the main focus of the convention. The declaration of independence had already been achieved in 1776, thus it was not a purpose of the 1787 meeting. While discussions regarding a bill of rights did occur, the formal adoption of such a bill came later as part of the ratification process. Similarly, the election of the first president occurred after the Constitution was ratified, making it unrelated to the immediate goals of the convention.