What motivated the leaders who called the constitutional convention and worked out the essential compromises in the constitution was the desire to allow people to make their own decisions in America. Being forced to pay taxes to the British and not having a say in what types of laws were passed was not acceptable to these leaders. Once they developed the constitution it was important that all of the states have an equal say in the laws that would be developed in Congress. It was also very important that the balance of powers be separated properly to ensure that there was true freedom and fairness in America.