Foundations Of The Constitution: Three Key Events

The United States Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, by 38 out of 41 delegates. The three events that led to the creation of the Constitution were: the deficiencies of the Articles of Confederation, which gave the Confederation Congress the power to make rules and request funds from the states but lacked enforcement powers and the ability to regulate commerce; Shays' Rebellion, which highlighted the need for a stronger, more centralized government; and the Annapolis Convention, which discussed the state of commerce in the United States and recommended a Constitutional Convention to address the shortcomings of the Articles of Confederation.

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The Articles of Confederation were flawed

The Articles of Confederation, America's first constitution, was ratified in 1781. While it served as a foundational governing document for the newly independent United States, it had several flaws that ultimately led to the creation of the Constitution.

One of the major flaws was the lack of a strong central government. The Articles established a loose confederation of states, with each state retaining significant independence. The Confederation Congress was given the power to make rules and request funds from the states, but it lacked enforcement powers, the ability to regulate commerce, and the authority to print money. This weakness became apparent as states' disputes over territory, war pensions, taxation, and trade threatened to tear the young nation apart.

The Articles of Confederation also lacked a clear mechanism for resolving disputes between states. This deficiency was exposed during Shays' Rebellion in 1786, when upset farmers in Massachusetts waged a series of violent battles, and the national government was unable to effectively respond. The lack of a strong central government and the inability to regulate commerce were key factors that led to calls for a Constitutional Convention to address these flaws.

Another flaw in the Articles of Confederation was the lack of representation based on population. The Articles did not specify whether congressional representation should be based on population or divided equally among the states. This issue of representation was a point of fierce contention and threatened to derail the Union. A compromise was reached, with each state given one representative for every 30,000 people in the House of Representatives and two representatives in the Senate.

Additionally, the Articles of Confederation did not adequately address the issue of slavery. While the delegates at the Constitutional Convention agreed to count enslaved Africans as three-fifths of a person, they also agreed to allow the slave trade to continue until 1808, postponing the resolution of this contentious issue.

In conclusion, the flaws in the Articles of Confederation, including the lack of a strong central government, a dispute resolution mechanism, clear representation guidelines, and a comprehensive approach to slavery, led to the realization that a new governing document was needed. This ultimately resulted in the creation of the United States Constitution, which established a more robust central government and addressed the deficiencies of the Articles.

Shays' Rebellion

The outbreak of Shays' Rebellion highlighted the need for a stronger, more centralized government, and it was decided that amendments to the Articles of Confederation were necessary. This led to the calling of a Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in May 1787, with representatives from all 13 states. The convention was initially intended to amend the Articles of Confederation, but it ultimately resulted in the proposal and creation of a completely new form of government.

The delegates at the Constitutional Convention debated fiercely over congressional representation, with some arguing for representation based on population and others for equal representation among the states. A compromise was reached, with each state receiving one representative for every 30,000 people in the House of Representatives and two representatives in the Senate. Another contentious issue was slavery, which was temporarily resolved by allowing the slave trade to continue until 1808.

The Constitutional Convention concluded in September 1787 with the signing of the new U.S. Constitution by 38 out of 41 delegates present. The Constitution created a powerful central government, addressing the concerns that had arisen during Shays' Rebellion. The Federalists, who believed in a strong central government, campaigned for ratification, while the Anti-Federalists opposed it due to its similarities to the overthrown government and the lack of a bill of rights. Despite the opposition, the Constitution was ratified by the required number of states, with the first federal elections taking place in 1788 and the new government being established in 1789.

The Annapolis Convention

At the time, the national government lacked the power to regulate commerce between the states, and the Articles of Confederation had several flaws, including the inability to enforce rules, regulate commerce, or print money. The states' disputes over territory, war pensions, taxation, and trade threatened to tear the country apart, and it became clear that a stronger, more centralized government was needed to ensure stability.

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The Constitutional Convention

The Articles of Confederation had been ratified in 1781, creating a loose confederation of independent states. However, it soon became apparent that the Articles lacked the necessary power to effectively govern the young nation. The central government had no authority to regulate commerce, and issues such as territory disputes, war pensions, taxation, and trade threatened to tear the country apart. James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and George Washington were among those who feared the country was on the brink of collapse.

One of the fiercest debates during the convention centred on congressional representation. The delegates disagreed on whether representation should be based on population or divided equally among the states. A compromise was eventually reached, with each state receiving one representative for every 30,000 people in the House of Representatives and two representatives in the Senate. The issue of slavery also threatened to derail the proceedings, but a temporary resolution was found by allowing the slave trade to continue until 1808.

The delegates worked through the hot summer months, debating and compromising to shape the new government. A Committee of Detail was appointed to draft a constitution, and a Committee of Style and Arrangement condensed the articles into a concise final form. On September 17, 1787, 38 delegates signed the Constitution, with George Reed signing on behalf of the absent John Dickinson of Delaware, bringing the total signatures to 39.

The creation of a new government

The creation of the United States Constitution and, with it, a new government, was a direct response to the failings of the Articles of Confederation. The Articles, which loosely joined the states together while maintaining their independence, lacked enforcement powers, the ability to regulate commerce, and the ability to tax or print money. This led to disputes between the states over territory, war pensions, taxation, and trade, threatening to tear the young nation apart.

The Constitutional Convention assembled in Philadelphia in May 1787, with delegates from all 13 states gathering to amend the Articles of Confederation. However, the convention soon took a different turn, as the delegates decided to completely redesign the government. The convention was marked by heated debates, with one of the fiercest arguments being over congressional representation. The delegates eventually compromised, agreeing to representation based on population, with each state receiving one representative for every 30,000 people in the House of Representatives and two representatives in the Senate. They also agreed to count enslaved Africans as three-fifths of a person, temporarily resolving the contentious issue of slavery by allowing the slave trade to continue until 1808.

The delegates appointed a Committee of Detail to draft a constitution, and a Committee of Style and Arrangement to shape it into its final form. On September 17, 1787, 38 delegates signed the Constitution, with a 39th signature added later, bringing the total to 39. The new government was set to begin on March 4, 1789, with George Washington elected as the first President and John Adams as Vice President.

The Federalists, who believed in a strong central government, faced opposition from Anti-Federalists, who were wary of centralized power and reminded of the recently overthrown government. The Federalists, led by James Madison, successfully lobbied for votes and published "The Federalist Papers", a series of essays explaining and defending the proposed new government. The first state to ratify the Constitution was Delaware on December 7, 1787, followed by several others, with Massachusetts playing a pivotal role in securing victory through the "vote now, amend later" compromise.

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