Simone Lawson
The United States Constitution, first drafted in 1787, was a pivotal moment in the history of the nation, but it was not without its critics. The ratification of the document produced many disagreements, and the Anti-Federalists opposed it because it created a powerful central government and lacked a bill of rights. Despite this, the Constitution was ratified and Americans once again turned to George Washington for leadership, this time as President. The new government faced many challenges, including divisions over the nature and functions of the federal government, foreign affairs, and the future of the nation. The first session of Congress established the Department of the Treasury, with Alexander Hamilton as its first Secretary, and the federal judiciary. The new nation also saw the emergence of political parties and factions, which were deeply divided over the direction of the country.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of the Constitutional Convention | May 1787 |
| Location of the Convention | Philadelphia State House (Independence Hall) |
| Objective | To revise the Articles of Confederation |
| Outcome | A new government was framed, including an executive, judiciary, and legislature with two houses |
| Date of Constitution approval | September 17, 1787 |
| Date of ratification | July 2, 1788 |
| Number of states approving the Constitution | Nine |
| First President | George Washington |
| First Secretary of the Treasury | Alexander Hamilton |
| Date of establishment of the federal judiciary | September 24, 1789 |
| Number of district courts created | Thirteen |
| Number of regional circuit courts created | Three |
| Number of Supreme Court justices | One chief justice and five associate justices |
| Date of the Virginia Plan | Summer of 1787 |
| Connecticut Compromise | Representation in the House of Representatives based on population, with each state receiving equal representation in the Senate |
| Date of the first written constitution | 1787 |
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What You'll Learn
The formation of political parties
The Federalists and Anti-Federalists had differing views on the interpretation of the Constitution. Hamilton took a flexible approach, supporting a loose constructionist interpretation and arguing that a national bank was constitutional. Jefferson, on the other hand, was a strict constructionist, believing that the government could only do what was specifically outlined in the Constitution. He famously wrote, "That government which governs the least, governs the best."
The Federalists and Anti-Federalists also differed in their economic policies. The Federalists promoted the financial system of Treasury Secretary Hamilton, which included federal assumption of state debts, tariffs to pay off those debts, and the encouragement of banking and manufacturing. The Anti-Federalists, with their power base in the plantation South, opposed a strong executive and a standing army and navy, and strongly rejected Hamilton's financial program.
In foreign policy, the Federalists favored Britain due to its political stability and close trade ties with America. The Anti-Federalists, on the other hand, admired France and the French Revolution.
By 1796, politics in every state was almost monopolized by these two parties, with party newspapers and caucuses becoming effective tools to mobilize voters. The Federalists were dominant until 1800, when they were swept out of power in a critical election, and the Jeffersonian Democratic-Republican Party rose to power. This period, known as the First Party System, lasted from approximately 1792 to 1824 and was marked by competition between these two national parties for control of the presidency, Congress, and the states.
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The creation of a federal judiciary
The Federalists, who believed in the necessity of a strong central government, played a significant role in shaping the new nation. They faced opposition from the Anti-Federalists, who were concerned about the concentration of power in the central government. Despite this, the Federalists were able to secure the ratification of the Constitution, which included the creation of a federal judiciary.
The Judiciary Act of 1789 established the federal judiciary system, creating thirteen district courts and three regional circuit courts, each with one judge. The Supreme Court, consisting of one chief justice and five associate justices, served as the highest court and the only court of appeals. This marked a significant shift from the weak central government under the Articles of Confederation, which lacked enforcement powers and the ability to regulate commerce or print money.
The establishment of the federal judiciary was a crucial step in providing order and stability to the new nation. It resolved disputes over territory, war pensions, taxation, and trade, which had previously threatened to tear the country apart. The federal judiciary also played a role in shaping the nature and functions of the federal government, influencing foreign affairs, and guiding the future direction of the country.
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The Department of the Treasury
The Treasury Department's responsibilities included managing the nation's fiscal policies and administering appropriations for early public building design. However, it was not until the mid-19th century that a centralized program for managing federal building activities was developed.
The establishment of the Department of the Treasury was a significant development in the early years of the new nation, as it provided a centralized system for managing the nation's finances and federal building projects. This was particularly important given the financial challenges faced by the new government, including the need to establish a stable currency and address economic issues such as taxation and trade disputes between the states.
The creation of the Department of the Treasury also reflected the broader efforts to strengthen the federal government and address the weaknesses of the previous Articles of Confederation, which had resulted in a weak central government with limited powers. The establishment of a strong executive branch, with the Treasury Department playing a key role, was a key step in this process.
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The Connecticut Compromise
The Compromise was offered by Connecticut delegates Roger Sherman and Oliver Ellsworth to resolve the dispute between small and large states over representation in the new federal government. It retained the bicameral legislature proposed by Sherman, while also addressing the concerns of large states, which sought representation proportional to their population. The Virginia or Randolph Plan, proposed by Edmund Randolph, supported this idea of proportional representation. On the other hand, the New Jersey or small state plan, proposed by William Paterson, advocated for equal representation in Congress.
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The Articles of Confederation
The Articles provided for a one-house legislature, a weak executive, no national power of taxation, a lack of standard currency, and voting by state. These flaws would eventually lead to its failure. For example, the Confederation Congress had the power to make rules and request funds from the states, but it lacked enforcement powers, could not regulate commerce, and could not print money.
The weaknesses of the Articles became increasingly apparent in the years after the Revolutionary War. Disputes among the states over territory, war pensions, taxation, and trade threatened to tear the young nation apart. Nationalists, led by figures such as James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and George Washington, worked towards strengthening the federal government and revising the Articles.
In 1787, a Constitutional Convention was convened in Philadelphia to address these issues. However, instead of simply revising the Articles, the delegates created an entirely new form of government, which included an executive, judiciary, and a bicameral legislature. This new constitution was approved on September 17, 1787, and ratified on July 2, 1788, replacing the Articles of Confederation as the supreme law of the land.
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Frequently asked questions
The Constitutional Convention of 1787 was a gathering of 55 delegates in Philadelphia, who rejected the Articles of Confederation and produced the first written constitution for any nation.
The delegates debated several divisive issues, including the apportionment of representation in the national legislature, the powers and mode of election of the chief executive, and the place of the institution of slavery.
The delegates created a completely new government with an executive, judiciary, and legislature comprised of two houses. The Constitution was approved on September 17, 1787, and ratified on July 2, 1788, after nine states approved it.
The new nation had a strong central government with the power to regulate commerce, print money, and enforce its rules. The federal judiciary was established, creating district and circuit courts, as well as the Supreme Court. The Department of the Treasury was also established to manage the nation's finances.
