Jonah Patel
The United States Constitution, the supreme law of the United States of America, was signed on September 17, 1787, by 38 out of 41 delegates present. The four-page document was drafted in secret by delegates to the Constitutional Convention during the summer of 1787. It established the government of the United States, superseding the Articles of Confederation, the nation's first constitution, on March 4, 1789, when it was ratified by nine of the 13 existing states.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of signing | September 17, 1787 |
| Date of superseding the Articles of Confederation | March 4, 1789 |
| Date of ratification by 9 of 13 states | June 21, 1788 |
| Date of first federal elections | December 15, 1788 |
| Date of official implementation | January 10, 1789 |
| Date of ratification by all states | May 29, 1790 |
| Date of ratification of the Bill of Rights | December 15, 1791 |
| Number of pages | 4 |
| Number of articles | 7 |
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What You'll Learn
- The US Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787
- It superseded the Articles of Confederation on March 4, 1789
- The Constitution was ratified by nine states on June 21, 1788
- The first federal elections were held from December 15, 1788, to January 10, 1789
- The Constitution was not ratified by all states until May 29, 1790
The US Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787
The US Constitution, the supreme law of the United States of America, was signed on September 17, 1787. The four-page document was drafted in secret by delegates to the Constitutional Convention during the summer of 1787. The Federal Convention first convened in the State House (Independence Hall) in Philadelphia on May 14, 1787, to revise the Articles of Confederation. The convention had its specific origins in a proposal offered by Madison and John Tyler in the Virginia assembly that the Continental Congress be given power to regulate commerce throughout the Confederation.
The delegates debated and redrafted the articles of the new Constitution. Among the chief points at issue were how much power to allow the central government, how many representatives in Congress to allow each state, and how these representatives should be elected—directly by the people or by the state legislators. The work of many minds, the Constitution stands as a model of cooperative statesmanship and the art of compromise. The original signed, handwritten Constitution is at the National Archives in Washington, D.C.
The Constitution superseded the Articles of Confederation, the nation's first constitution, on March 4, 1789. The Constitution's first three articles embody the doctrine of the separation of powers, in which the federal government is divided into three branches: the legislative, consisting of the bicameral Congress (Article I); the executive, consisting of the president and subordinate officers (Article II); and the judicial, consisting of the Supreme Court and other federal courts (Article III). Article IV, Article V, and Article VI embody concepts of federalism, describing the rights and responsibilities of state governments, the states in relationship to the federal government, and the shared process of constitutional amendment.
The Constitution became the official framework of the government of the United States of America when New Hampshire became the ninth of 13 states to ratify it on June 21, 1788. The first state to ratify the Constitution was Delaware on December 7, 1787, followed by Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticut. The Constitution was not ratified by all states until May 29, 1790, when Rhode Island finally approved the document.
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It superseded the Articles of Confederation on March 4, 1789
The United States Constitution, one of the world's most influential legal documents, was signed on September 17, 1787. However, it did not immediately come into force. The journey towards its enactment as the supreme law of the land included a significant step on March 4, 1789, when it superseded the Articles of Confederation.
The Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union, the predecessor to the Constitution, was the first constitution of the United States, drafted by the Continental Congress in 1776 and adopted in 1781. It established a loose confederation of states with a weak central government, which had limited powers and faced challenges in effectively governing the young nation.
The Articles granted sovereignty and independence to the states, creating a league of friendship between them. While it established a unicameral legislature, the Congress of the Confederation, it lacked key powers such as the ability to levy taxes, regulate trade, and enforce laws. The central government was largely dependent on the states for funding and support, and this often led to ineffectiveness and instability.
The shortcomings of the Articles became increasingly apparent, and calls for a stronger central government grew. Shifting from the Articles to the Constitution was a pivotal moment in American history. The Constitution, with its system of checks and balances and separation of powers, provided a framework for a more robust and effective national government.
On March 4, 1789, the United States Constitution officially superseded the Articles of Confederation. This marked a fundamental shift in the nation's governance, establishing a federal system with a stronger central government and a clear division of powers. The new government, operating under the framework of the Constitution, could address the weaknesses of the Articles, providing stability, unity, and a more efficient governing structure for the growing nation.
This transition set the stage for the development of the United States as a nation, shaping its political landscape and laying the foundations for its future growth and global influence. The Constitution, with its enduring principles and adaptable nature, continues to serve as the cornerstone of American democracy, protecting the rights and freedoms of its citizens.
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The Constitution was ratified by nine states on June 21, 1788
The United States Constitution is the supreme law of the United States of America. It superseded the Articles of Confederation, the nation's first constitution, on March 4, 1789. The Constitution was drafted in secret by delegates to the Constitutional Convention during the summer of 1787. This four-page document was signed on September 17, 1787, and established the government of the United States.
The Constitution's first three articles embody the doctrine of the separation of powers, dividing the federal government into three branches: the legislative, consisting of the bicameral Congress (Article I); the executive, consisting of the President and subordinate officers (Article II); and the judicial, consisting of the Supreme Court and other federal courts (Article III).
The Constitution was not immediately ratified after it was signed. It needed to be approved by the people through the ratification process. Under Article VII, it was agreed that the document would not be binding until its ratification by nine of the 13 existing states. On June 21, 1788, New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify the Constitution, which then became the official framework of the government of the United States.
The journey to ratification was a long and arduous process. The Confederation Congress endorsed Alexander Hamilton's initiative to reevaluate the nation's governing document, and representatives from all 13 states were invited to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia on May 25, 1787. The first state to ratify the Constitution was Delaware on December 7, 1787, followed by Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticut. 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 were held from December 15, 1788, to January 10, 1789
The US Constitution is a four-page document that was drafted in the summer of 1787 and signed on September 17, 1787. The Federal Convention convened in the State House (Independence Hall) in Philadelphia on May 14, 1787, to revise the Articles of Confederation. The document established the government of the United States.
The election process was not without its challenges. For instance, the Federalist-dominated Pennsylvania assembly struggled to gather a quorum on September 29 to call a state ratifying convention. However, with the help of a Philadelphia mob, they managed to drag two anti-Federalist members from their lodgings to the State House, ensuring the assembly could vote.
The nation's first presidential election resulted in George Washington being elected President and John Adams being elected Vice President. The Constitution, with its seven articles, delineates the frame of the federal government, embodying the doctrine of the separation of powers.
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The Constitution was not ratified by all states until May 29, 1790
The United States Constitution is the supreme law of the United States of America. It superseded the Articles of Confederation, the nation's first constitution, on March 4, 1789. The Constitution was drafted in secret by delegates to the Constitutional Convention during the summer of 1787. This four-page document was signed on September 17, 1787, and established the government of the United States. The Constitution's first three articles embody the doctrine of the separation of powers, in which the federal government is divided into three branches: the legislative, consisting of the bicameral Congress (Article I); the executive, consisting of the President and subordinate officers (Article II); and the judicial, consisting of the Supreme Court and other federal courts (Article III).
After New Hampshire's ratification, Congress set dates for the first federal elections and the official implementation of the Constitution. Elections were held from December 15, 1788, to January 10, 1789, and the new government was set to begin on March 4, 1789. In the nation's first presidential election, George Washington was elected President and John Adams was elected Vice President.
The Constitution's main provisions include seven articles that define the basic framework of the federal government. Articles that have been amended still include the original text, although provisions repealed by amendments under Article V are usually bracketed or italicized to indicate they no longer apply.
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Frequently asked questions
The US Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787.
The US Constitution came into effect on March 4, 1789, when the new government under the Constitution was established.
The US Constitution was ratified on June 21, 1788, when New Hampshire became the ninth of 13 states to approve it.
