Final answer:
Pennsylvania sought to ensure a democratic form of government that catered to the interests of all taxpaying men, not just property owners, at the Constitutional Convention. This stance also influenced their approach to national issues, such as representation and power distribution between federal and state governments.
Step-by-step explanation:
Pennsylvania's role in the Constitutional Convention was significant due to its support for a more democratic form of government, characterized by the radical state constitution it adopted during the Revolutionary Era. At the convention, Pennsylvania had been influenced by its own experience with a constitution that aimed to reduce the power of elites and emphasized democracy, allowing tax-paying men to vote for delegates and participate in government regardless of property ownership.
This progressive stance continued into the Constitutional Convention, where Pennsylvania likely carried these principles into the discussions on the formation of the new national framework. The main goal of the Philadelphia Convention, which became the Constitutional Convention of 1787, was initially to amend the Articles of Confederation. However, the delegates quickly moved to create a new United States Constitution. Pennsylvania faced internal struggles between the democratizing efforts of its constitution and the resistance from the elites who opposed such changes.