Malcolm Rivera
The United States Constitution, originally drafted in 1787 and ratified in 1789, is the foundation of the US Federal Government. The 1787 Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, and established the government of the United States. The 1789 Constitution, which came into effect after the necessary number of state ratifications, has served as the basis of the United States Government ever since. The 1787 Constitution was drafted at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, which met between May and September 1787 to address the problems of the weak central government that existed under the Articles of Confederation. The 1789 Constitution, on the other hand, established a federal government with more specific powers, including those related to conducting relations with foreign governments.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year of drafting | 1787 |
| Year of ratification | 1789 |
| Location of drafting | Independence Hall, Philadelphia |
| Date of drafting | May 25, 1787 – September 17, 1787 |
| Number of pages | 4 |
| Number of amendments | 27 |
| Purpose | To establish a federal government with more specific powers, including conducting relations with foreign governments |
| Basis of government | Federal democratic republic |
| Principles | Inherent rights, establish justice, ensure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote general welfare, and secure liberty |
| Powers | Conducting foreign relations, treaty ratification |
| Structure | Legislative, Judicial, and Executive branches |
| Legislative structure | Bicameral (two-house) Congress with a House of Representatives and a Senate |
| Ratification process | Ratification by two-thirds majority (nine of the 13 states) |
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What You'll Learn
The 1787 Constitution was drafted in secret
The 1787 Constitution, also known as the United States Constitution, was drafted in secret by delegates to the Constitutional Convention during the summer of 1787. The convention assembled at Independence Hall in Philadelphia between May 25 and September 17, 1787. The delegates were chosen by the state legislatures of 12 of the 13 original states, with Rhode Island refusing to send delegates.
The convention's initial mandate was to revise the Articles of Confederation, which had proven ineffective in meeting the young nation's needs. However, the delegates quickly began considering measures to replace the Articles. The first proposal, introduced by delegates from Virginia, was the "Virginia Plan," which called for a bicameral (two-house) Congress based on proportional representation, an elected chief executive, and an appointed judiciary. This plan was opposed by the small states, which feared domination by the more populous states in the legislature.
An alternative proposal, the "New Jersey Plan," was introduced to revise the Articles of Confederation and preserve equal representation of the states. However, the convention ultimately rejected this plan and decided to work towards an entirely new form of government. The issue of representation in the two houses of the new national legislature became a major point of contention, with the convention eventually adopting the Connecticut Compromise, which suggested proportional representation in the lower house and equal representation in the upper house.
The first draft of the Constitution was accepted on August 6, 1787, and the final document was completed five weeks later. The Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, and established the federal government of the United States. It was then submitted to the Congress of the Confederation, which voted to forward the proposal to the states for their ratification. The Constitution came into effect in 1789 after the necessary number of state ratifications and has served as the basis of the United States Government ever since.
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The 1789 Constitution was ratified by nine states
The 1787 Constitution was drafted in Philadelphia by delegates from 12 of the 13 original states, with Rhode Island refusing to send delegates. The convention was called to propose revisions to the Articles of Confederation, which had proven ineffective in meeting the needs of the young nation. However, the delegates quickly began considering measures to replace the Articles, and the final document introduced a completely new form of government.
The 1787 Constitution established a federal government with more specific powers, including those related to conducting foreign relations. It created a model of government that relied on a series of checks and balances by dividing federal authority between the legislative, judicial, and executive branches. The issue of representation in the two houses of the new national legislature was a major point of contention, with larger states seeking proportional representation and smaller states wanting to preserve equal representation.
The 1787 Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, and submitted to the Congress of the Confederation in New York City. The Congress then forwarded the proposal to the thirteen states for their ratification. The 1789 Constitution was ratified by nine states, with New Hampshire becoming the ninth state to do so on June 21, 1788. The other eight states to ratify before New Hampshire were Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, and South Carolina.
The ratification of the 1789 Constitution marked the official adoption of the new Constitution, and the machinery of the state was designed, but it had not yet been tested or put to use. The Constitution established a federal democratic republic, with the purpose of "establish [ing] Justice, insur [ing] domestic Tranquility, provid [ing] for the common defense, promot [ing] the general Welfare, and secur [ing] the Blessings of Liberty" to the people.
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The 1787 Constitution was a revision of the Articles of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation established a weak central government with limited powers. It could not effectively regulate commerce, raise funds, assemble delegates, or support a war effort. The government's inability to pass and enforce laws led to challenges in conducting foreign policy and resolving disputes between states. The country faced economic disaster, with Congress attempting to function with a depleted treasury and paper money flooding the market, causing extraordinary inflation.
In addition to these financial and governance issues, there were growing calls for changes to the Articles to strengthen the powers of the central government. The limitations of the Articles became particularly evident in the context of interstate trade barriers and the need to protect manufacturing and shipping industries. The inability to regulate commerce effectively also impacted the government's ability to assemble delegates and raise funds, further exacerbating the financial crisis.
The Constitutional Convention of 1787 in Philadelphia was convened to address these issues and revise the Articles of Confederation. However, the delegates quickly realized that the defects in the existing framework of government could not be remedied by minor alterations. As a result, they went beyond their original mandate and authored a new constitution, creating a bold plan for an entirely new form of government. This new constitution established a federal government with more specific powers, including those related to conducting foreign relations.
The 1787 Constitution, also known as the United States Constitution, established a federal democratic republic with a system of checks and balances. It divided federal authority between the legislative, judicial, and executive branches, with the legislative branch retaining considerable power. The constitution also provided for inherent rights, such as freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and the right to bear arms, among others.
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The 1789 Constitution established a federal democratic republic
The United States Constitution, which came into effect in 1789, established a federal democratic republic. The Constitution was drafted in 1787 by delegates to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, which met between May and September of that year. The convention was called to address the problems of the weak central government that existed under the Articles of Confederation.
The Constitution established a federal government with more specific powers, including those related to conducting relations with foreign governments. It created a model of government that relied on a series of checks and balances by dividing federal authority between the legislative, judicial, and executive branches. The legislative branch was divided into a House of Representatives and the Senate, with representation in the lower house based on population and equal representation in the upper house.
The Constitution is often referred to as the "supreme law of the land," and it serves as the basis of the United States Government. It is considered a "living" document because it can be amended, although in over 200 years, there have only been 27 amendments. The Constitution established a federal democratic republic, with the purpose of the Federal Government being to "establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty" to the people.
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The 1787 Constitution was a response to the weak central government
In September 1786, an interstate convention was held to discuss reversing the protectionist trade barriers that states had erected. James Madison, who would become a delegate to the Constitutional Convention, questioned the viability of the Articles of Confederation as a form of government. During Shays' Rebellion in Massachusetts, Congress could not provide financial support to the state, and General Benjamin Lincoln had to raise funds from merchants for a volunteer army.
The Constitutional Convention met in Philadelphia between May and September 1787 to address these issues. The convention included respected figures such as George Washington, who was unanimously elected president of the convention. The delegates created a model of government with checks and balances, dividing federal authority between the legislative, judicial, and executive branches.
The convention considered various proposals, including the Virginia Plan, which called for a bicameral legislature with representation based on state population, and the New Jersey Plan, which would have retained equal representation of the states. The delegates also debated issues such as slavery and proportional representation, with the Southern states dependent on slave labor and smaller states concerned about being overshadowed by more populous ones.
The final draft of the Constitution was approved on September 17, 1787, and it was submitted to the Confederation Congress in New York City. The Constitution established a federal government with more specific powers, including conducting foreign relations. It provided for a federal democratic republic, with inherent rights for anyone living in America.
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Frequently asked questions
The 1787 Constitution was drafted and signed in 1787, but it did not come into effect until 1789 after it was ratified by nine states.
1787 is the year the Constitution was drafted and signed. The Constitutional Convention met in Philadelphia between May and September of 1787 to address the problems of the weak central government that existed under the Articles of Confederation.
1789 is the year the Constitution came into effect. After the necessary number of state ratifications, the Constitution was adopted in 1789 and has served as the basis of the United States Government ever since.
The 1787 Constitution established a federal government with more specific powers, including those related to conducting relations with foreign governments. It also established a Federal democratic republic, with three branches of government: the Legislative, the Judicial, and the Executive.
