Simone Lawson
The United States Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, by 38 delegates, marking the end of the Constitutional Convention. The Constitution was created to replace the Articles of Confederation, which was America's first constitution. The Articles of Confederation gave the Confederation Congress the power to make rules and request funds from the states, but it lacked enforcement powers, the ability to regulate commerce, and the ability to print money. The young country was facing disputes over territory, war pensions, taxation, and trade, which threatened to tear it apart. The nationalists, led by James Madison, wanted to create a powerful central government, but this was opposed by the Anti-Federalists, who did not want to give up power to a national government. The nationalists were able to persuade members that any new constitution should be ratified through conventions of the people and not by Congress or the state legislatures. The Constitution was then sent to the states for ratification, and two-thirds of the states had to ratify it before it could go into effect.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of signing | September 17, 1787 |
| Number of signatures | 39 |
| Number of delegates | 55 |
| Previous constitution | Articles of Confederation |
| Amendments to previous constitution | Needed due to lack of enforcement powers, inability to regulate commerce, print money, and prevent disputes between states |
| Type of government | Centralized |
| Ratification process | Ratification by 9 of 13 states |
| Bill of Rights | Not originally included |
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What You'll Learn
The Articles of Confederation
James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and George Washington, fearing the country was on the brink of collapse, helped convince Congress to organize a Grand Convention of state delegates to revise the Articles of Confederation. The Constitutional Convention assembled in Philadelphia in May 1787, with Madison arriving two weeks early to lay out his "Virginia Plan". The convention spent its first few weeks discussing and revising the Virginia Plan.
The convention debated Paterson's plan for three days, ultimately rejecting it and moving towards the creation of a new government. Madison and his allies believed that any new constitution should be ratified by the people and not by Congress or state legislatures. They wanted to bring the issue before "the people," where ratification was more likely. The convention was attended by 55 delegates, 39 of whom signed the final draft of the Constitution on September 17, 1787.
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Shays' Rebellion
The rebellion was a significant factor in the call for a stronger central government and the creation of the U.S. Constitution. Alexander Hamilton helped convince Congress to organize a Grand Convention of state delegates to work on revising the Articles of Confederation. The Constitutional Convention assembled in Philadelphia in May 1787, with James Madison, known as the "Father of the Constitution," playing a key role in shaping the new government.
Madison and his nationalist allies believed that any new constitution should be ratified directly by the people and not by Congress or state legislatures, as they felt it would face strong opposition from state political leaders who stood to lose power. The convention delegates crafted a powerful central government, balancing the interests and views of those who wanted a strong central authority and those who were wary of centralized power.
The final draft of the Constitution was signed by 39 of the 55 convention attendees on September 17, 1787. The document was then sent to Congress for approval, which was quickly granted, and the ratification process began. The Constitution faced opposition from Anti-Federalists who feared the creation of a powerful central government that reminded them of the one they had overthrown. However, with the "vote now, amend later" compromise, the Federalists were able to secure victory in key states, eventually enacting the new government with ratification by 9 of the 13 states.
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The Annapolis Convention
Twelve delegates from five U.S. states—New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Virginia—gathered to discuss and develop a consensus on reversing the protectionist trade barriers that had been erected by each state. Under the existing Articles of Confederation, each state was largely independent, and the national government lacked the authority to regulate trade between states. The delegates, which included future President James Madison, future Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton, and future Secretary of State Edmund Randolph, recognized that the issue of trade was intertwined with many other aspects of the Confederation.
The final report of the convention, authored by Alexander Hamilton, called for a broader constitutional convention to be held the following May in Philadelphia. It sought support for a stronger federal government and expressed hope for greater representation from the states. The Annapolis Convention served as a critical stepping stone towards the Constitutional Convention, laying the groundwork for the nation's constitutional formation.
While George Washington did not physically attend the Annapolis Convention, he played a pivotal role in its conception and in shaping its recommendations. Washington had previously hosted the Mount Vernon Convention in 1785, and his plans concerning the waterways connecting the Potomac and the Ohio River were also discussed at the Annapolis Convention. The delegates at Annapolis realized that addressing economic shortcomings required discussing commerce and trade regulation.
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The Virginia Plan
After much debate and compromise, the delegates worked to shape the Virginia Plan into a document that would be accepted by states of all sizes. This led to the Great Compromise, also known as the Connecticut Compromise, which incorporated elements of both the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan. The final document, the Constitution of the United States, was signed by 38 delegates on September 17, 1787, marking a significant moment in the country's history.
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The Federalists and Anti-Federalists
The Anti-Federalists, on the other hand, opposed the creation of a stronger federal government, fearing that it would threaten individual liberties and erode state sovereignty. Led by Patrick Henry of Virginia, they believed that the Constitution, as drafted, would lead to a loss of rights, an overly powerful presidency, and an unresponsive and out-of-control judiciary. The Anti-Federalists advocated for a more decentralized form of government, with greater protections for individual rights and stronger representation for the states. They also believed that a large central government would not adequately serve the interests of small towns and rural areas, which they felt were better represented by state governments.
The Federalists were instrumental in shaping the new US Constitution in 1787, which strengthened the national government. They successfully argued for ratification through conventions of the people rather than through Congress or state legislatures, believing that the latter would be less likely to ratify the Constitution due to fears of losing power. The Federalists also agreed to consider amendments to the Constitution, including a Bill of Rights, to address some of the concerns raised by the Anti-Federalists and ensure successful ratification.
The Anti-Federalists, despite their passionate opposition to the Constitution, were never able to organize efficiently across all thirteen states. They fought the ratification at every state convention but ultimately lost. However, their influence was significant, as they played a crucial role in the enactment of the Bill of Rights, which guaranteed specific liberties and reinforced the reservation of powers to the states and the people.
The differences between the Federalists and Anti-Federalists were complex and vast, shaping the early political landscape of the United States and influencing the balance of power between the federal government and the states. The ratification of the Constitution marked a pivotal moment in American history, setting the foundation for the country's governance and enduring as one of the longest-lived and most emulated constitutions in the world.
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Frequently asked questions
The Articles of Confederation, America's first constitution, gave the Confederation Congress the power to make rules and request funds from the states, but it had no enforcement powers, couldn’t regulate commerce, or print money.
The Articles of Confederation had several major flaws, including the lack of a central power to regulate commerce between states. The states’ disputes over territory, war pensions, taxation, and trade threatened to tear the young country apart.
Following Shays' Rebellion in 1786, a Convention in Annapolis discussed the state of commerce in the United States and the deficiencies of the Articles of Confederation. It was decided that amendments to the Articles of Confederation were needed, leading to the call for a Constitutional Convention to create a new constitution.
The Constitutional Convention assembled in Philadelphia in May of 1787, with James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and George Washington in attendance, among other delegates. The convention debated various plans for the new government, ultimately moving toward the creation of a new government with a powerful central authority.
The final draft of the Constitutional Convention was signed on September 17, 1787, by 39 of the 55 delegates. The document was then sent to Congress for ratification, with two-thirds of the states needing to ratify before it could take effect.
