Eleanor Finch
The first written constitution of the United States was the Articles of Confederation, which was sent to the 13 states for consideration in 1777. It was superseded by the Constitution of the United States in 1789, which is the supreme law of the United States of America.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Articles of Confederation |
| Date | March 4, 1789 |
| Previous constitution | N/A |
| Reason for replacement | It was short-lived and had limitations |
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What You'll Learn
The Articles of Confederation
The Constitution of the United States is the supreme law of the United States of America. It originally included seven articles, the first three of which embody the doctrine of the separation of powers. 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).
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The Continental Congress
In 1776, the Second Continental Congress took the momentous step of declaring America’s independence from Britain. Five years later, the Congress ratified the first national constitution, the Articles of Confederation, under which the country would be governed until 1789, when it was replaced by the U.S. Constitution. The Articles of Confederation were the first written constitution of the United States. The Continental Congress, initially filled with the leading figures of the respective colonies, continued to either come up short or outright fail in the duties a government needed to perform in order to be efficient. The most glaring weakness of the Continental Congress was the lack of assertion when it came to raising revenue and taxes.
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The Declaration of Independence
America's first written constitution was the Articles of Confederation, which was sent to the 13 states for consideration in 1777. It superseded the Articles of Confederation, the nation's first constitution, on March 4, 1789. The Constitution of the United States is the supreme law of the land and delineates the framework of the federal government, including the separation of powers into three branches: the legislative, executive, and judicial.
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The Battle of Yorktown
The battle was a significant turning point in the war, as it marked the first time that a British army had been defeated and captured on American soil. It also demonstrated the effectiveness of Washington's strategy of using a combination of regular troops and militia forces.
The battle began on October 14, 1781, when Washington's army surrounded Yorktown, Virginia, where Cornwallis' army was stationed. Washington's forces included around 8,000 Continental Army troops and 7,000 French troops, while Cornwallis had around 9,000 troops. The Americans and French had been planning a joint attack on New York City, but when they learned that Cornwallis had moved his forces to Yorktown, they changed their plans and decided to attack there instead.
The siege of Yorktown lasted for three weeks, during which time Washington's army built earthworks and trenches to surround the British forces. The Americans and French also used artillery to bombard the British positions, causing heavy casualties. On October 19, the British attempted a breakout, but it was unsuccessful and resulted in further casualties.
Finally, on October 17, 1781, Cornwallis surrendered. The British army marched out of Yorktown with flags lowered and stacked their arms, signalling their surrender. The victory at Yorktown effectively ended the war, as the British were no longer able to mount a significant offensive against the Americans. It also demonstrated the strength and determination of the American forces, who had fought for over five years to win their independence.
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The Constitution's first three articles
The first written constitution of the United States was the Articles of Confederation. It was written in 1777 and came into force on March 1, 1781, after being ratified by all 13 colonial states. The Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union was the first frame of government during the American Revolution.
The Articles of Confederation named the new nation 'The United States of America'. Under these articles, the states remained sovereign and independent, with Congress serving as the last resort on appeal of disputes. Congress was given the authority to make treaties and alliances, maintain armed forces and coin money. However, the central government lacked the ability to levy taxes and regulate commerce.
The Articles of Confederation 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).
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Frequently asked questions
The Articles of Confederation.
November 17, 1777.
To form a war-time confederation of states, with an extremely limited central government.
The Constitution of the United States, which became the supreme law of the United States of America.
March 4, 1789.
