Which of the following was a unifying theme at the Philadelphia Convention?

The unifying theme at the Philadelphia Convention was checks and balances. This principle was fundamental to the framers' vision of a government that would prevent any one branch from gaining excessive power. The framers aimed to address the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation, which had created a federal government that lacked a robust structure for managing power effectively. Therefore, they designed a system where legislative, executive, and judicial branches would have distinct powers and responsibilities, along with the ability to limit one another’s authority through checks and balances. This was seen as essential for ensuring liberty and safeguarding against tyranny, making it a central theme during the deliberations in Philadelphia in 1787.

In contrast, the other options reflect concerns that were either secondary or more contentious issues during the convention. The expansion of slavery was indeed a major topic of debate, particularly concerning representation and the slave trade, but it did not serve as a unifying theme as it created significant divisions among the delegates. The elimination of the executive branch was not a practical consideration as the framers recognized the need for a strong executive to lead the government. Likewise, disbanding the military was not a goal of the convention; instead, the delegates sought to create a more effective national defense structure than what