Founding Fathers: Framing The Constitution

The US Constitution was written and signed in 1787, superseding the Articles of Confederation, which was 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, and couldn't print money. Disputes over territory, war pensions, taxation, and trade threatened to tear the young country apart. The Constitution was written during the Philadelphia Convention, now known as the Constitutional Convention, which convened from May 25 to September 17, 1787, and was signed on September 17, 1787, by 38 delegates, with a 39th signature added later. The Constitution was written to address the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation and to create a powerful central government that could provide order and stability. It separates the powers of government into three branches: the legislative, executive, and judicial, and sets up a system of checks and balances to ensure no one branch has too much power.

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The Articles of Confederation were deemed inadequate

The Articles of Confederation, America's first constitution, was adopted by the Continental Congress on November 15, 1777, and served as the United States' first national frame of government. It was in force from March 1, 1781, until 1789 when the present-day Constitution went into effect. The Articles were designed to establish a firm league among the thirteen free and independent states, setting up central institutions for the conduct of vital domestic and foreign affairs.

However, the Articles of Confederation were deemed inadequate by many, including James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and George Washington, who feared that the young nation was on the brink of collapse. The Articles gave the Confederation Congress the power to make rules and request funds from the states, but it lacked enforcement powers, the ability to regulate commerce, and the power to print money. The central government was weak, with the states retaining considerable power, and this led to disputes over territory, war pensions, taxation, and trade that threatened to tear the country apart.

The Articles also failed to provide an effective mechanism for regulating and funding the military. Although they enabled the states to present a unified front when dealing with European powers, they did not grant Congress the authority to compel the states to contribute troops or funding, leaving the military vulnerable to inadequate resources.

In addition, the Articles of Confederation proved challenging to amend, requiring unanimous ratification for any changes. This made it difficult to adapt the document to the evolving needs of the nation.

As a result of these shortcomings, there were calls for a stronger central government and revisions to the Articles. The Constitutional Convention, which assembled in Philadelphia in May 1787, was initially intended to revise the Articles, but the delegates quickly began considering measures to replace them entirely. This ultimately led to the creation of the United States Constitution, which superseded the Articles of Confederation in 1789.

A strong central government was desired

The United States Constitution was written in 1787, just a few years after the Revolutionary War. At this time, the young country was facing several challenges, including disputes among the states over territory, war pensions, taxation, and trade. The Articles of Confederation, which was America's first constitution, had established a weak central government with no enforcement powers, no ability to regulate commerce, and no power to tax. This led to concerns that the country was on the brink of collapse.

James Madison, one of the key authors of the Constitution, believed that a strong central government was necessary to address these issues. He had studied history and political theory extensively and was convinced of the inadequacies of a confederacy of independent states. Madison proposed a "middle ground" that would support "a due supremacy of the national authority" while maintaining state power when it was "subordinately useful." He, along with other nationalists like Alexander Hamilton and George Washington, worked towards strengthening the federal government and revising the Articles of Confederation.

The Constitutional Convention, which met in Philadelphia in 1787, was originally intended to revise the Articles of Confederation. However, the delegates quickly began considering a completely new constitution. They shared Madison's desire for a stronger central government, but they also wanted to ensure that no one branch had too much power. The final Constitution, which was ratified by 11 states, established a federal government with three separate branches: the legislative, executive, and judicial. This system of checks and balances divided power between the states and the federal government, providing a balance between strong central authority and state autonomy.

The Federalists, who supported the Constitution, believed that a strong central government was necessary to face the nation's challenges. On the other hand, the Anti-Federalists opposed it because it reminded them of the government they had just overthrown and because it lacked a bill of rights. The ratification process was challenging, and it required compromises, such as the "vote now, amend later" agreement, to secure the necessary number of states for the Constitution to take effect.

The Constitutional Convention assembled in Philadelphia

The convention was convened at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, with delegates chosen by the state legislatures of 12 of the 13 original states. Rhode Island refused to send delegates. The delegates included notable figures such as James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, and others. The convention was conducted under an oath of secrecy, and the drafting of the Constitution was completed over the course of three hot summer months of passionate and thoughtful debate.

The delegates appointed a Committee of Detail, which included members like Edmund Randolph, James Wilson, and Nathaniel Gorham, to put their decisions in writing. Edmund Randolph of Virginia wrote the first rough draft, which was then revised by James Wilson. This draft was kept confidential to avoid controversy. After reviewing the draft, the Committee of Detail sent it to Philadelphia printers John Dunlap and David Claypoole to print copies for the delegates.

Near the end of the convention, a Committee of Style and Arrangement, including Alexander Hamilton, William Johnson, and Gouverneur Morris, condensed the articles into a final form. On September 17, 1787, 38 delegates signed the Constitution, with George Reed signing on behalf of John Dickinson of Delaware, bringing the total to 39 signatures. The Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia played a pivotal role in drafting and finalizing the Constitution, setting the stage for its subsequent ratification by the states.

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The delegates debated and drafted a new constitution

The Constitutional Convention of 1787 was called to address the shortcomings of the Articles of Confederation, which had been the United States' first constitution. The Articles had established a weak central government, with limited powers and no ability to regulate commerce, print money, or enforce rules. This had led to disputes between the states over territory, war pensions, taxation, and trade, threatening to tear the young nation apart.

The Convention, which met in Philadelphia, was attended by delegates from 12 of the 13 original states, with Rhode Island refusing to send representatives. The delegates debated fiercely over the structure and powers of a new federal government. They considered various proposals, including a bicameral (two-house) Congress with proportional representation in the lower house and equal representation in the Senate.

The delegates also made compromises to satisfy the interests of the Southern states, such as protecting the slave trade for 20 years and allowing states to count three-fifths of their slave population for representation in the federal government. These compromises were crucial in holding the Union together and ensuring the Constitution's eventual ratification.

After months of passionate debate, the delegates appointed a Committee of Detail, which included figures such as Edmund Randolph and James Wilson, to draft a written constitution. This committee studied the Convention's resolutions, state constitutions, the Articles of Confederation, and other relevant documents before producing a rough draft. This draft underwent further revisions and was circulated confidentially among the delegates.

A Committee of Style, including Alexander Hamilton and Gouverneur Morris, was then tasked with preparing the final version of the Constitution. This committee condensed the original 23 articles into seven and made further revisions to create the final form of the document. 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 ratification process was challenging

The ratification campaign was a closely contested affair. The tide turned in Massachusetts, where the "vote now, amend later" compromise helped secure victory, eventually leading to success in the final holdout states. The Constitution was finally ratified by nine states on June 21, 1788, with New Hampshire being the ninth state to do so. The Confederation Congress then established March 4, 1789, as the date to begin operating under the new government.

The road to ratification was long and arduous, marked by intense debates and compromises. The Constitutional Convention, which began in May 1787, was tasked with revising the ailing Articles of Confederation. However, the delegates soon abandoned the Articles and embarked on drafting a new Constitution with a stronger national government. The Convention witnessed fierce debates over the structure and powers of the new federal government, with delegates representing diverse interests and views. The Convention lasted three hot summer months, during which a Committee of Detail was appointed to put its decisions in writing, and a Committee of Style and Arrangement condensed 23 articles into seven.

The final draft of the Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, by 38 delegates, with George Reed signing on behalf of John Dickinson of Delaware, bringing the total signatures to 39. The delegates had created a powerful central government while remaining loyal to their states and crafting compromises. The Constitution stood as a completely new form of government, and its ratification process was a challenging and complex journey that laid the foundation for the United States of America.

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