Jonah Patel
The United States Constitution was signed by 38 out of 41 delegates on September 17, 1787, marking the end of the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia. The convention was initially called to revise the Articles of Confederation, which had been America's first constitution but lacked enforcement powers and the ability to regulate commerce. However, the delegates ultimately decided to create a new form of government with a powerful central government and a series of checks and balances. The Constitution needed to be ratified by 9 of the 13 existing states to take effect, and this was achieved on June 21, 1788, when New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify it. The first federal elections were held from December 15, 1788, to January 10, 1789, and the new government, with George Washington as President and John Adams as Vice President, began on March 4, 1789.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of signing | 17 September 1787 |
| Number of signatures | 39 |
| Number of states needed for ratification | 9 of 13 |
| First state to ratify | Delaware |
| Date of first ratification | 7 December 1787 |
| Date of ratification by 9th state | 21 June 1788 |
| Date of first federal elections | 15 December 1788 |
| Date of official implementation of the Constitution | 4 March 1789 |
| First President elected | George Washington |
| First Vice President elected | John Adams |
| Date of designation of capital | 24 January 1791 |
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What You'll Learn
The Constitutional Convention assembles in Philadelphia in 1787
The United States Constitution is one of the longest-lived and most emulated constitutions globally. The Constitutional Convention, assembled in Philadelphia in May 1787, played a pivotal role in its formation. The convention was convened to address the shortcomings of the Articles of Confederation, which lacked enforcement powers, the ability to regulate commerce, and the authority to tax or print money, leading to disputes among the states.
The delegates, representing 12 states (Rhode Island refused to participate), initially aimed to revise the Articles. However, they soon realised that a complete redesign of the government was necessary. The convention witnessed fierce debates, with one of the most contentious issues being congressional representation. A compromise was reached, with each state allocated one representative for every 30,000 people in the House and two in the Senate, and enslaved Africans counted as three-fifths of a person.
The delegates, including prominent figures such as George Washington, James Madison, and Alexander Hamilton, crafted a model of government that divided federal authority between the Legislative, Judicial, and Executive branches, with a system of checks and balances. They also had to navigate the contentious issue of slavery, agreeing to temporarily resolve it by allowing the slave trade to continue until 1808.
The final draft of the Constitution, presented in early September, was voted on and signed by 38 or 39 delegates on September 17, 1787. The convention's outcome was a remarkable achievement, setting the terms for a powerful central government and bypassing state legislatures by calling for special ratifying conventions in each state. The Constitution came into effect in 1789 after being ratified by the necessary nine out of 13 states, marking a significant turning point in American history.
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Delegates agree to a new form of government
The United States Constitution was signed by 38 out of 41 delegates on September 17, 1787, marking a pivotal moment in the nation's history. The delegates had initially gathered in Philadelphia in May 1787 with the aim of amending the Articles of Confederation, which had served as the country's first constitution. However, it soon became evident that more significant changes were needed to address the young nation's pressing challenges.
The Articles of Confederation had granted the Confederation Congress rule-making and funding powers, but it lacked enforcement authority and the ability to regulate commerce or print money. This resulted in disputes among the states over territory, war pensions, taxation, and trade, threatening the country's stability. Recognizing the need for a stronger central government, the delegates embarked on crafting a new form of government.
The Constitutional Convention witnessed intense debates, with one of the fiercest arguments revolving around congressional representation. The delegates grappled with the question of whether representation should be based on population or divided equally among the states. A compromise was reached, allocating one representative for every 30,000 people in the House of Representatives and two representatives in the Senate for each state.
Another contentious issue was slavery, which threatened to derail the Union. A temporary resolution was found, with the delegates agreeing to allow the slave trade to continue until 1808, and the infamous Three-Fifths Compromise, where enslaved Africans were counted as three-fifths of a person. These compromises reflected the delegates' efforts to balance their diverse interests and views in shaping the new government.
The delegates' creation of a powerful central government addressed the shortcomings of the Articles of Confederation. They established a federal government with enhanced authority, including the ability to conduct foreign relations. The new model of government introduced checks and balances by dividing federal authority among the Legislative, Judicial, and Executive branches. This innovative design aimed to ensure efficient governance and protect against the concentration of power.
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A final draft of the Constitution is presented
The Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, which met between May and September 1787, was originally intended to revise the Articles of Confederation. However, the delegates, representing a wide range of interests and views, decided to create a new form of government with a stronger central government.
The delegates debated fiercely over congressional representation, slavery, and other issues, ultimately crafting a series of compromises. From August 6 to September 10, the committee of detail's report was discussed, and further compromises were made.
On September 8, a Committee of Style and Arrangement, including Alexander Hamilton, William Samuel Johnson, Rufus King, James Madison, and Gouverneur Morris, was tasked with creating a final draft constitution from the 23 approved articles. The final draft, presented on September 12, contained seven articles, a preamble, and a closing endorsement, of which Morris was the primary author.
The final document was taken up on September 17, at the convention's final session. On that day, 38 delegates signed the Constitution, with George Reed signing for the absent John Dickinson of Delaware, bringing the total to 39 signatures.
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Ratification by 9 of 13 states
The United States Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, by 38 out of 41 delegates present. However, it was not to be binding until ratified by nine of the 13 existing states. The Federalists, who believed in the necessity of a strong central government, needed to convert at least three states as only six of the 13 states reported a pro-Constitution majority.
The Anti-Federalists, on the other hand, vehemently opposed the Constitution, arguing that it created a powerful central government reminiscent of the one they had overthrown, and that it lacked a bill of rights. The ratification campaign was challenging, but a compromise in Massachusetts helped secure victory, which eventually led to the necessary nine states ratifying the Constitution.
The first state to ratify the Constitution was Delaware on December 7, 1787, followed by Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticut. On June 21, 1788, New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify the Constitution, making it the official framework of the US government.
The delegates to the Constitutional Convention created a government model that relied on a series of checks and balances by dividing federal authority between the Legislative, Judicial, and Executive branches. The framers of the Constitution had originally imagined a weak presidency and a strong legislature, divided into a House of Representatives and the Senate. The Constitution came into effect in 1789 and has served as the basis of the United States Government ever since.
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The Constitution comes into effect in 1789
The United States Constitution came into effect in 1789, marking a significant turning point in the country's history. The road to this milestone began a few years after the Revolutionary War, when prominent figures like James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and George Washington feared the young nation was on the brink of collapse due to the shortcomings of the Articles of Confederation, America's first constitution.
The Articles of Confederation had granted the Confederation Congress rule-making and funding powers, but it lacked enforcement capabilities, struggled with commerce regulation, and couldn't print money. This led to disputes among the states over territory, war pensions, taxation, and trade, threatening the country's unity.
In response, the Constitutional Convention assembled in Philadelphia in May 1787, with delegates aiming to revise the Articles. However, they soon decided to create an entirely new form of government. The convention witnessed intense debates, including the contentious issue of congressional representation, which was resolved through a compromise based on population. The delegates also grappled with the thorny issue of slavery, agreeing to temporarily continue the slave trade until 1808 and counting enslaved Africans as three-fifths of a person.
The final draft of the Constitution, crafted by a committee that included Hamilton and Madison, was signed by 38 delegates on September 17, 1787. It established a federal government with enhanced powers, including those related to foreign affairs. The document stipulated that it would come into effect once ratified by nine of the 13 states. The ratification process was challenging, with Federalists and Anti-Federalists locked in a fierce battle. The former supported a strong central government, while the latter opposed it due to concerns about a concentration of power.
The tide turned in Massachusetts, which ratified the Constitution after the "vote now, amend later" compromise, leading to similar outcomes in other holdout states. On June 21, 1788, New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify, officially enacting the Constitution. The first federal elections were held from December 15, 1788, to January 10, 1789, and the new government, led by President George Washington and Vice President John Adams, commenced on March 4, 1789.
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Frequently asked questions
The convention was called to revise 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.
The delegates decided to completely redesign the government, creating a powerful central government with a federal model that divided authority between the Legislative, Judicial, and Executive branches.
Alexander Hamilton led the call for a constitutional convention and, along with James Madison and John Jay, produced "The Federalist Papers", a series of essays explaining and defending the proposed new government.
The Constitution required ratification by nine of the 13 existing states to take effect.
The Constitution was ratified by the necessary number of states in 1789 and has served as the basis of the United States Government ever since.
