Omar Bennett
New Jersey, one of the original 13 colonies, played a significant role in shaping the US Constitution. The state was a key battleground during the American Revolution, witnessing over 100 battles and earning the moniker Crossroads of the Revolution. In 1776, New Jersey adopted its own constitution, which notably granted suffrage to women, a right later revoked in 1807. New Jersey's colonial history is marked by political divisions, with the state being divided into East and West Jersey, each with distinct proprietors, governments, and laws. The West Jersey Concessions, drafted in 1676, established a framework for governance and legal principles, some of which would later become integral components of the US Constitution and Bill of Rights. New Jersey was the third state to ratify the US Constitution in 1787 and the first to approve the Bill of Rights. At the Constitutional Convention, New Jersey delegate William Paterson proposed the New Jersey Plan, showcasing the state's influence on the nation's founding documents.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| First state to sign the Bill of Rights | 1787 |
| Third state to ratify the U.S. Constitution | 1787 |
| Structure of government and a legal framework | 1676 |
| Gender-neutral language in the constitution | 1776 |
| First state constitution | 1776 |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
The 'New Jersey Plan'
The New Jersey Plan was a proposal for the structure and functioning of the United States government, introduced at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in 1787 by William Paterson, the head of the New Jersey delegation. The plan was designed to benefit small states such as New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland, by providing each state with equal representation in the legislature, regardless of their population. This reflected the belief that the states were independent entities that had freely and individually entered the United States.
The New Jersey Plan consisted of nine resolutions:
- The Articles of Confederation should be revised to make them more effective for governing and preserving the Union.
- Congress should be granted the authority to collect import duties and raise taxes through measures such as a stamp tax and postage.
- The three-fifths rule should be established, whereby three-fifths of the number of enslaved people in a state would be counted for determining its population, impacting funding requests from Congress.
- An executive branch, consisting of multiple individuals, should be established. This executive could be removed by a majority vote of the states.
- A federal judiciary, appointed by the executive branch, should be created to hear impeachments and appeals.
- Acts of Congress made under the Articles of Confederation should be considered supreme law, with state judges bound to uphold them.
- Provisions should be made for admitting new states into the Union.
- A uniform rule of naturalization should be established.
- Citizens of each state should be treated equally in state criminal courts.
The New Jersey Plan faced criticism from delegates of more populous states, who argued that it did not sufficiently expand Congressional powers. It was ultimately rejected, with three states voting in favour, seven against, and one divided. However, aspects of the plan were later incorporated into the Connecticut Compromise, which reconciled the New Jersey Plan and the competing Virginia Plan, creating the current structure of Congress.
Parliamentary Systems: Constitutions and Their Exceptions
You may want to see also
The state's industrial development
New Jersey played a significant role in the American Revolution, with more battles fought on its soil than in any other state. General George Washington spent more time in New Jersey than in any other colony, and his victory at Trenton in 1776 is considered by some historians as the most important American military victory ever, as it revived the nation's morale, spirits, and determination. This ultimately contributed to the success of the fledgling nation's fight for independence.
New Jersey's influence on the US Constitution stems from its early colonial history and the political structures that emerged during that period. The colony was initially divided into two distinct proprietary colonies: West Jersey and East Jersey, each with its own constitutions enacted in 1681 and 1683, respectively. The West Jersey Concessions, drafted in 1676, established a framework for governance and law that would later become core features of the US Constitution and Bill of Rights.
The state's early experience with diverse forms of government and legal frameworks laid the groundwork for its active participation in shaping the nation's founding documents. In 1787, New Jersey became the third state to ratify the US Constitution and the first to sign the Bill of Rights. At the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia that year, a New Jersey delegate, William Paterson, proposed the "New Jersey Plan," reflecting the state's experience with federalism and influencing the structure of the national government.
New Jersey's industrial development between the Revolutionary and Civil Wars was significant, marked by the construction of canals and railroads. The Camden and Amboy line, a forerunner of present-day Conrail, played a crucial role in the state's political life during the "robber baron" era of the 19th century. Accommodating tax laws attracted corporations, earning New Jersey the nickname "Mother of Trusts." By the early 1900s, half of the country's largest corporations were headquartered in the state.
The state's industrial prowess continued into the 20th century, with northern cities like Paterson, Trenton, Camden, Elizabeth, Jersey City, and Newark hosting factories that produced textiles, trains, silk, clay products, iron, and steel. This industrial activity contributed to New Jersey's population growth, reaching nearly half a million by 1850. The state's economic development and strategic location between New York and Pennsylvania further solidified its influence on national affairs, shaping the young nation's political, economic, and social landscape.
China's Founding: Republic or Empire?
You may want to see also
The third state to ratify the US Constitution
New Jersey was the third state to ratify the US Constitution, on December 18, 1787. The first two states to ratify the Constitution were Delaware and Pennsylvania.
The US Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, by 38 out of 41 delegates present. The document introduced a completely new form of government, replacing the Articles of Confederation, which had governed the country until then. The new Constitution required ratification by nine of the 13 states to come into effect.
New Jersey played a significant role in shaping the US Constitution. At the 1787 Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, a New Jersey delegate, William Paterson, proposed the "New Jersey Plan." This plan likely influenced the final form of the Constitution.
New Jersey has a long history of independent-mindedness. Before 1738, a single governor ruled both New Jersey and New York. After the separation of the two colonies, New Jersey's first governor, Lewis Morris, was advised by a member of the Assembly to keep the governor's salary low so that the legislature could maintain control. This attitude may have contributed to New Jersey's early ratification of the Constitution, which created a stronger, more centralized government.
How US Constitution Influences Global Business
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The first to approve the Bill of Rights
New Jersey was the first state to approve the Bill of Rights. The Bill of Rights is a founding document written by James Madison, comprising the first ten amendments to the US Constitution. These amendments were proposed by Congress and ratified by the Legislatures of the several States.
The Bill of Rights was added to the Constitution because the original document lacked limits on government power. Federalists advocated for a strong national government, while Anti-Federalists wanted power to remain with state and local governments. They favoured a bill of rights to safeguard individual liberty. Madison, then a member of the US House of Representatives, altered the Constitution's text, but several representatives objected, saying that Congress had no authority to change the wording. Madison's changes were therefore presented as a list of amendments that would follow Article VII.
The House approved 17 amendments, of which the Senate approved 12, which were sent to the states for approval in August 1789. On 21 September 1789, a House-Senate Conference Committee convened to resolve the differences between the two Bill of Rights proposals. The committee issued a report on 24 September, which finalised 12 Constitutional Amendments for the House and Senate to consider. This final version was approved by joint resolution of Congress on 25 September 1789.
Ten of the proposed 12 amendments were ratified by three-fourths of the state legislatures on 15 December 1791. The ratified Articles (Articles 3–12) constitute the first 10 amendments of the Constitution, or the US Bill of Rights. In 1992, 203 years after it was proposed, Article 2 was ratified as the 27th Amendment to the Constitution. Article 1 was never ratified.
Presidential Powers: Foreign Policy Influence
You may want to see also
The 'Crossroads of the Revolution'
New Jersey, one of the original 13 colonies, was an important battleground during the American Revolution. The state was the site of more than 100 battles, earning it the nickname "The Crossroads of the Revolution".
During the Revolution, General George Washington spent more time in New Jersey than in any other colony. His victory at Trenton in 1776 is described by some historians as the most important American military victory ever, as it revived the nation's morale, spirits, and determination. In December 1776, Washington and his troops crossed the Delaware River from Pennsylvania in Durham boats, surprising a garrison of German mercenaries. Washington maintained his headquarters in Morristown during the winters of 1776–1777 and 1779–1780, where the Continental Army contended with harsh weather, disease, and mutiny. Without Washington and the Continental Army's successes in New Jersey, the nation's fight for independence may have failed.
New Jersey's colonial history began when Henry Hudson sailed the Newark Bay in 1609. Small trading colonies emerged in towns where Hoboken and Jersey City are now located. Settlers from the Netherlands, Sweden, and Finland settled in Bergen, forming the first permanent European settlement in the state. In 1664, the Dutch lost control of New Jersey to the English, who split the colony and gave control to two proprietors: Sir George Carteret and Lord John Berkley. The political division between the two colonies, East Jersey and West Jersey, existed for 26 years between 1678 and 1712. In 1702, the proprietors of East and West Jersey surrendered their authority to the Crown, creating one colony under a royal governor.
In 1776, New Jersey adopted its first constitution, which granted suffrage to women (though this right was revoked in 1807). The constitution reflected the turbulence and uncertainty of the time, with the state at war and nearly in a civil war. In 1787, New Jersey became the third state to ratify the U.S. Constitution and the first to sign the Bill of Rights. At the 1787 Constitutional Convention, a New Jersey delegate, William Paterson, proposed the "New Jersey Plan". Elements of the West Jersey Concessions, which outlined a structure of government and a legal framework, also became core features of the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights.
Congress' Power to Tax: Exploring Constitutional Boundaries
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
The New Jersey colony influenced the US Constitution through the "New Jersey Plan", proposed by a New Jersey delegate, William Paterson, at the 1787 Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia.
The "New Jersey Plan" was a proposal for a stronger federal government, with one legislative body where each state would have one vote. This plan was in contrast to the "Virginia Plan", which proposed a three-branch federal government with two legislative bodies, where representation was based on state population.
The "New Jersey Plan" influenced the structure of the US Constitution by providing a compromise between the larger and smaller states during the Constitutional Convention. While the US Constitution adopted the three-branch federal government proposed by the "Virginia Plan", it also included elements of the "New Jersey Plan", such as guaranteeing each state equal representation in the Senate.
