7. Topic: The Constitution. Thesis: The delegates at the Constitutional Convention knew that the creation of a government based on democratic and republican principles was a daunting if not impossible task. They were very concerned about the problems that had destroyed earlier experiments in democratic and republican governments. Many thought that history had proven that no such government could be prevented from sliding into tyranny or dictatorship while governing a large and diverse body politic. Nevertheless, armed with the ideas of John Locke, the lessons of history and their own inspiration, James Madison and the other framers were able to invent a new form of government that successfully addressed many of these formidable problems.