Which event helped shape the U.S. Constitution in 1787?

The Constitutional Convention, held in 1787, was a pivotal event that directly shaped the U.S. Constitution. Delegates from the states gathered in Philadelphia to address the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation, the country's first governing document. This convention resulted in the drafting of a new Constitution, laying out the framework for the federal government and its relationship to the states and citizens.

During the convention, key principles such as the separation of powers, checks and balances, and federalism were established. These principles were essential for creating a strong but balanced national government, one that would take into account both the rights of the states and the need for a unified federal authority. The discussions and compromises made by the framers, including the Great Compromise and the Three-Fifths Compromise, were instrumental in forming the document that would govern the United States.

The other events mentioned—such as the American Revolution, the Boston Tea Party, and the signing of the Declaration—were significant in their own right, contributing to the broader context of American independence and the eventual need for a new constitution. However, they do not directly pertain to the immediate development of the Constitution itself. The American Revolution set the stage for independence, the Boston Tea Party was part of