Omar Bennett
The United States Constitution, which was signed in 1787, is the fundamental framework of America's system of government. It separates the powers of government into three branches: the legislative, executive, and judicial branches. It also sets up a system of checks and balances to ensure no one branch has too much power. But what exactly had to happen for this important document to take effect? The process was long and arduous, and it involved passionate deliberation among the delegates, who represented wildly different interests and views.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of signing | September 17, 1787 |
| Number of delegates signing | 38 out of 41 |
| Number of states ratifying | 9 out of 13 |
| First state to ratify | Delaware |
| Date of first ratification | December 7, 1787 |
| Date of official implementation | March 4, 1789 |
| Date of ratification by all states | May 29, 1790 |
| Date of ratification of the Bill of Rights | 1791 |
| Date of establishment of the capital | July 16, 1790 |
| Location of the convention | Philadelphia |
| Number of states represented | 12 |
| Number of committees | 2 |
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What You'll Learn
A convention of state delegates is called to propose revisions to the Articles of Confederation
On February 21, 1787, the Confederation Congress called a convention of state delegates to propose revisions to the Articles of Confederation. The convention was held in Philadelphia, and delegates from 12 states (out of 13) attended, with Rhode Island refusing to participate. The delegates had initially gathered to revise the Articles of Confederation, but by mid-June, they had decided to completely redesign the government.
The delegates held secret, closed-door sessions and wrote a new constitution, which was signed on September 17, 1787, by 38 out of 41 delegates present. The new constitution provided for a much stronger federal government by establishing a chief executive (the president), courts, and taxing powers. The delegates also agreed to count enslaved Africans as three-fifths of a person, and allowed the slave trade to continue until 1808.
The new constitution was then sent to the states for ratification. The ratification process was long and contentious, with Federalists and Anti-Federalists debating the merits of the new constitution. The Federalists, who supported the new constitution, believed that a strong central government was necessary to face the nation's challenges. On the other hand, the Anti-Federalists opposed the new constitution because it created a powerful central government that reminded them of the one they had just overthrown, and it lacked a bill of rights.
The Constitution needed to be ratified by nine of the 13 states to go into effect. On July 3, 1788, New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify the Constitution, establishing it as the new framework of governance for the ratifying states. The first federal elections were held from December 15, 1788, to January 10, 1789, and the new government under the Constitution began on March 4, 1789, with George Washington as the first president.
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Delegates agree to create a new form of government
In 1787, the United States Constitution was drafted and signed by delegates, replacing the Articles of Confederation, which had served as the country's first constitution. The Articles of Confederation had established a weak and ineffective central government, with no enforcement powers, an inability to regulate commerce, and no authority to print money. This led to concerns about the young nation's stability and the potential for states' disputes to tear the country apart.
The Constitutional Convention assembled in Philadelphia in May 1787, with delegates from 12 states in attendance. The delegates had initially gathered to revise the Articles of Confederation, but by mid-June, they had decided to create an entirely new form of government. This decision was driven by the recognition that a stronger, more centralized government was necessary for the country's stability and future success.
The delegates engaged in passionate and thoughtful deliberations, navigating complex issues such as congressional representation and slavery. They crafted compromises, balancing the interests and views of the different states. The final draft of the Constitution, presented in September 1787, established a powerful central government, separated the powers of government into three branches (legislative, executive, and judicial), and set up a system of checks and balances to ensure no single branch held too much power.
The Constitution did not immediately take effect upon signing. It required ratification by nine of the 13 states, which was achieved on June 21, 1788, when New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify. This marked the beginning of the new government under the Constitution, with George Washington elected as the first president. The Constitution has since undergone amendments and continues to be the supreme law of the land, serving as an inspiration for democratic governance worldwide.
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The new constitution is signed by delegates
The signing of the United States Constitution occurred on September 17, 1787, when 39 delegates endorsed the constitution created during the convention. George Reed signed for John Dickinson of Delaware, who was absent, bringing the total number of signatures to 39. The delegates had been tasked with revising the existing government, but they came up with a completely new one. The final document, engrossed by Jacob Shallus, was taken up on the day of the convention's final session.
The Constitutional Convention assembled in Philadelphia in May 1787. The delegates closed the windows of the State House and swore secrecy so they could speak freely. Although they had gathered to revise the Articles of Confederation, they soon decided to abandon them and create a new constitution with a much stronger national government. There was little agreement about what form it would take, and one of the fiercest arguments was over congressional representation. The framers compromised by giving each state one representative for every 30,000 people in the House of Representatives and two representatives in the Senate.
On July 26, 1787, after two months of fierce debate over the structure and powers of a new federal government, the Constitutional Convention was ready to commit its resolutions to writing. They appointed a "committee of detail" to draft a written constitution, and adjourned until August 6. The committee first studied the Convention's resolutions, state constitutions, the Articles of Confederation, and other applicable reports and documents. Edmund Randolph of Virginia wrote out a rough draft of a constitution, which was then revised by James Wilson. A clean copy was sent to prominent Philadelphia printers John Dunlap and David Claypoole, who printed just enough copies for use by the delegates. The draft was kept secret to avoid controversy.
From August 6 to September 10, the committee of detail's report was discussed, section by section and clause by clause. Further compromises were effected, and a Committee of Style and Arrangement was appointed to distill a final draft constitution from the 23 approved articles. The final draft, presented to the convention on September 12, contained seven articles, a preamble, and a closing endorsement, of which Gouverneur Morris was the primary author.
The delegates to the Philadelphia Convention provided for ratification of the Constitution by popularly elected ratifying conventions in each state. They suspected that some states, such as Rhode Island, might not ratify, so they decided that the Constitution would go into effect as soon as nine states (two-thirds rounded up) ratified. Each of the remaining four states could then join the newly formed union by ratifying. After a long and often bitter debate, eleven states ratified the Constitution, which instituted a new form of government for the United States.
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The constitution is ratified by nine of the 13 states
The United States Constitution is the fundamental framework of America's system of government. It separates the powers of government into three branches: the legislative branch, which makes the laws; the executive branch, which executes the laws; and the judicial branch, which interprets the laws. It also sets up a system of checks and balances to ensure no one branch has too much power, and divides power between the states and the federal government.
The Constitution was signed by 38 out of 41 delegates on September 17, 1787, but it did not immediately go into effect. It needed to be ratified by the people through a special ratifying convention in each state, as outlined in Article VII of the Constitution. This was because the delegates wanted to bypass the state legislatures, knowing that their members would be reluctant to give up power to a national government.
The first state to ratify the Constitution was Delaware on December 7, 1787, followed by Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticut. The ratification campaign was a nail-biter, with the Federalists and Anti-Federalists fiercely debating the merits of the Constitution. The Federalists, including Alexander Hamilton and James Madison, argued for a strong central government, while the Anti-Federalists opposed the creation of a powerful central government that reminded them of the one they had just overthrown.
On June 21, 1788, New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify the Constitution, and the Confederation Congress established March 4, 1789, as the date to begin operating under the new government. The Constitution was not ratified by all states until May 29, 1790, when Rhode Island finally approved the document.
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The first federal elections are held
The Constitution outlines the powers given to Congress and the states regarding elections. The Elections Clause, or Article I, Section 4, Clause 1, of the Constitution, states that state legislatures choose the times, places, and manner of holding elections for the House and the Senate, subject to Congress's authority to amend state regulations.
The first federal elections in the United States were held in 1788 and 1789 to select the first president, vice president, and Congress. These elections were the first time the new system of the Electoral College was implemented. The Electoral College, outlined in Article 2, Section 1 of the Constitution, sets the number of presidential electors as equal to the number of members in a state.
The process of federal elections has changed significantly since the first elections. The Constitution's 12th Amendment sets out the basic requirements for presidential and vice-presidential elections, including the rules of procedure for the Electoral College. The 12th Amendment also states that a joint session of Congress is required to count the electoral votes and declare the winners of the presidential election.
In addition to the 12th Amendment, other laws and regulations have been put in place to govern federal elections. For example, the National Voter Registration Act and the Help America Vote Act require states to maintain accurate and current lists of legally registered voters. Federal laws also prohibit foreign nationals from participating in federal, state, or local elections by making contributions or expenditures.
The role of Congress and the states in regulating elections has been a subject of debate and legal challenges. While the Elections Clause gives states the power to regulate elections, Congress has the authority to veto state regulations and construct its own laws to safeguard against potential abuse of state authority.
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Frequently asked questions
The Constitution is the fundamental framework of America's system of government. It separates the powers of government into three branches: the legislative branch, which makes the laws; the executive branch, which executes the laws; and the judicial branch, which interprets the laws.
The Constitution had to be ratified by the people. Article VII of the Constitution established that ratification of the Conventions of nine States would be sufficient for the Establishment of this Constitution. On June 21, 1788, New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify, and the Confederation Congress established March 4, 1789, as the date to begin operating a new government under the Constitution.
On February 21, 1787, the Confederation Congress called a convention of state delegates in Philadelphia to propose revisions to the Articles of Confederation. On May 25, 1787, a quorum of seven states met and deliberations began. The delegates ultimately decided to create a new form of government. The final draft, presented to the convention on September 12, was signed by 38 out of 41 delegates on September 17, 1787. The Constitution was then ratified by the states, with Delaware being the first on December 7, 1787, and New Hampshire being the ninth on June 21, 1788.
