Final answer:
The Constitutional Convention of 1787, prompted by economic shortcomings and a lack of effective government control, resulted in a strong centralized federal government as outlined in the U.S. Constitution. The new framework granted the federal government the power to levy taxes and regulate commerce, balanced by a power-sharing system known as Federalism. The structure of the Constitution reflected significant compromises on issues such as state representation, slavery, and the distribution of power.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Constitutional Convention of 1787 transformed the structure of the American federal government. Triggered by economic crisis, dissatisfaction with the Articles of Confederation, and civil unrest such as Shays' Rebellion, delegates from twelve of the thirteen states convened with the primary goal of strengthening the federal government. Federalist advocates, most notably James Madison and Alexander Hamilton, argued for a powerful centralized government, resulting in the drafting of the US Constitution - a remarkable testament to their efforts.
The original structure of the government as outlined in the Articles of Confederation proved ineffective due to its inability to levy taxes or control foreign policy. The Constitution of 1787 granted the federal government these powers, improving its ability to regulate interstate commerce and enforcing a power-sharing system known as Federalism, where some duties are designated to the state governments, and others are shared with the national government.
Fundamentally, the Constitution consists of a preamble and seven articles. The first three articles divide the federal government into three branches - Congress, the executive branch, and the federal judiciary, each with its own powers and responsibilities. The national legislature was designed with compromises in mind, resolving issues about representation, slavery, and national power. This yielded what's known as The Great Compromise.
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