Jonah Patel
The United States Constitution was ratified in 1789, but the process was a contentious one. The country was governed by the Articles of Confederation, which 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. This led to disputes over territory, war pensions, taxation, and trade, threatening to tear the young country apart. The Constitution was an attempt to resolve these issues by creating a powerful central government with checks and balances to prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful. The ratification process sparked an intense national debate between Federalists, who supported the Constitution, and Anti-Federalists, who opposed it. The key concessions that led to the ratification of the Constitution included the addition of a Bill of Rights, the establishment of a bicameral legislature to address the balance of power between large and small states, and the Three-Fifths Compromise, which addressed how enslaved individuals would be counted for taxation and representation purposes.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Key concessions | A bill of rights |
| Checks and balances | |
| Bicameral legislature | |
| Three-Fifths Compromise | |
| Division of power between federal and state governments | |
| Treaty ratification | |
| Foreign affairs | |
| Paperwork | |
| Centralized power | |
| Ratification by 9 of 13 states | |
| State rights |
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What You'll Learn
The Great Compromise
The delegates to the Constitutional Convention, presided over by George Washington, were deeply divided over issues such as the structure of the legislative branch, the balance of power between large and small states, slavery, trade, taxes, foreign affairs, and representation. The Great Compromise was a creative solution to these issues, and it played a crucial role in shaping the structure of the US government.
The Compromise established a bicameral legislature, with the Senate and the House of Representatives having different representation models. This ensured that both large and small states had a voice in the government, and it laid the foundation for the system of checks and balances that would prevent any one branch of government from becoming too powerful.
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The Three-Fifths Compromise
The proposal for the Three-Fifths Compromise originated with an amendment suggested to the Articles of Confederation on April 18, 1783. The amendment aimed to change the basis for determining a state's wealth and, consequently, its tax obligations, from real estate to population. Congress settled on the three-fifths ratio proposed by James Madison, which was later seconded by Charles Pinckney. This amendment, however, failed to gain unanimous approval, falling two states short.
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The Bill of Rights
The ratification of the US Constitution was a long and challenging process, marked by intense debate and vigorous compromise. The Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, by 38 or 39 of the 55 delegates. It then had to be ratified by at least nine of the 13 states to come into effect. The Anti-Federalists, who opposed the Constitution, argued that it lacked a Bill of Rights and did not adequately protect individual liberties and states' rights.
The Federalists, who supported the Constitution, agreed to recommend a Bill of Rights to address these concerns. This concession was crucial in swaying skeptics in several states, including Virginia and New York, whose participation was crucial for the legitimacy of the new government. The "'vote now, amend later'" compromise in Massachusetts also played a significant role in the ratification process, leading to the inclusion of the Bill of Rights.
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Checks and balances
The founding fathers of the United States Constitution were concerned about the concentration of power in any one branch of government. They were wary of centralized power and loyal to their states. Hence, they created a powerful central government with a system of checks and balances to prevent any one branch of government from becoming too powerful.
The Constitution divides federal authority between the Legislative, the Judicial, and the Executive branches of government. The Legislative branch was further divided into the Senate (equal representation for states) and the House of Representatives (representation based on population). The Executive branch was given the authority to conduct foreign relations and handle routine paperwork. The Judicial branch interprets the laws and ensures that the other branches do not exceed their constitutional powers.
The system of checks and balances ensures that no one branch can dominate the others and that the powers of the federal government are limited. Each branch has specific powers and responsibilities that serve as checks on the powers of the other branches. For example, the Legislative branch has the power to pass laws, but the Executive branch can veto those laws. The Legislative branch can override a veto with a two-thirds majority, but the Executive branch can influence the legislation by proposing new laws or amendments. The Judicial branch can declare laws or executive actions unconstitutional, but the Legislative branch can impeach judges and the Executive branch can appoint new judges.
The system of checks and balances also extends to the relationship between the federal government and the states. The Tenth Amendment reserves all powers not specifically granted to the federal government to the states, ensuring that the federal government does not infringe on states' rights. The system of federalism, with power divided between the federal and state governments, further balances the power of the federal government.
The checks and balances built into the Constitution were a key factor in securing its ratification. The Anti-Federalists, who opposed the Constitution, were concerned that it concentrated too much power in the federal government at the expense of the states. The Federalists, who supported the Constitution, argued that the checks and balances would prevent any one branch or level of government from becoming too powerful. The inclusion of a Bill of Rights also helped to address concerns about the protection of individual liberties.
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Division of powers
The division of powers was a key issue during the Constitutional Convention and ratification process. The delegates sought to address the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation, which had granted significant powers to the states, leading to challenges in conducting foreign policy and resolving disputes between the states.
The Articles of Confederation had established a weak central government, with the Confederation Congress wielding limited authority. It could make rules and request funds from the states, but lacked enforcement powers, the ability to regulate commerce, or print money. This resulted in states acting more like independent, sovereign countries, with disputes over territory, war pensions, taxation, and trade threatening the unity of the young nation.
To address these issues, the delegates at the Constitutional Convention proposed a new model of government that divided powers between the Legislative, Judicial, and Executive branches, creating a system of checks and balances to prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful. The Legislative branch was further divided into the Senate and the House of Representatives, with the Senate providing equal representation for states and the House of Representatives based on population.
The Executive branch was also given more authority to handle matters of foreign relations, such as treaty ratification, which had previously been a source of tension between the North and South. This shift in power allowed the President to conduct foreign relations more effectively, while still requiring Senate approval by a two-thirds majority for treaties, ensuring that states had a voice in these decisions.
The division of powers between the federal and state governments was another critical aspect. While the new Constitution created a more powerful central government, it also protected states' rights and ensured that most of the power remained with the state governments. This balance addressed the concerns of Anti-Federalists, who feared a concentration of power at the federal level, and Federalists, who advocated for a strong central government capable of addressing national challenges.
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Frequently asked questions
The promise to add a Bill of Rights was the key concession that helped sway skeptics in several states.
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 had no enforcement powers, couldn’t regulate commerce, or print money. The states’ disputes over territory, war pensions, taxation, and trade threatened to tear the young country apart.
The Three-Fifths Compromise addressed how enslaved individuals would be counted for taxation and representation purposes, with three out of every five enslaved persons counted. This was one of the many compromises made during the Constitutional Convention to balance the interests and views of the different states.
