On September 17, 1787, the united States Constitution had just been read to the assembled delegates of the Constitutional Convention for their review and approval. Prior to the Constitution having been written, the United States was governed by a set of Articles of Confederation, which, in many opinions, was problematic in the management of our new nation. The Articles of Confederation left much more power in the hands of the states than our current form of government. Many at the time felt, after having just thrown off the yoke of an oppressive, distant government, that having government closer to the people was far superior. Others felt that there was a need for a centralized government especially in matters of international importance that could represent all of the states with one voice. To this end, John Jay, Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and George Washington were the leading advocates for the centralization of government and the construction of the Constitution of the United States.
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