One of the major debates at the Constitutional Convention was between delegates who wanted a strong federal government and others who favored:

Aleaving more power with the states.
Bcreating a federal government with three branches.
Callowing slaves to vote in southern states.
Dadopting a form of constitutional monarchy.

In September 1786, commissioners from five states met at the Annapolis Convention to discuss reforms to the Articles of Confederation that would improve trade.

They invited representatives from other states to meet in Philadelphia to discuss improvements to the federal government. As a result of the debate, the Congress of the Confederation set out to review the Articles of Confederation on February 21, 1787. Twelve of the thirteen states, with Rhode Island being the only exception, accepted the invitation and sent delegates to the convention in May. 1787. The resolution convened by the Convention specified its purpose of amending the Articles of Confederation, but the Convention decided to propose the writing of a new Constitution.

The Philadelphia Convention voted to keep the deliberations a secret and decided to draft a new fundamental design of government that eventually established that nine of the thirteen states would have to ratify the constitution so that it would enter into force for the participating states.