Simone Lawson
The United States Constitution was drafted in 1787 by 55 delegates at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia. The Convention was initially called to amend the Articles of Confederation, but the delegates ultimately created a new form of government with a stronger federal government and a system of checks and balances. The Constitution established a federal government with more specific powers, including those related to conducting foreign relations. However, the document did not include certain protections for individual rights and liberties, such as freedom of speech, religion, and the press. Additionally, the Constitution did not stipulate the existence of departments within the executive branch, and the system of representation in Congress was still evolving.
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What You'll Learn
No protection for freedom of speech, religion, and press
The original draft of the U.S. Constitution, written in 1787, did not include protections for freedom of speech, religion, and the press. These protections were added later in the form of the First Amendment, which was adopted in 1791.
The Constitutional Convention of 1787 was a pivotal moment in American history, marking a significant shift towards a stronger federal government and addressing the shortcomings of the Articles of Confederation. The fifty-five men gathered in Philadelphia, led by James Madison, successfully drafted the four parchment pages of the original Constitution. However, this document did not initially include explicit protections for freedom of speech, religion, and the press.
The absence of these protections became a point of contention, with several states refusing to ratify the Constitution without a Bill of Rights. The concept of freedom of religion held particular significance for many American colonists, including religious groups such as Quakers, Episcopalians, and Presbyterians, who had emigrated from England to escape religious persecution.
The delegates to the Constitutional Convention recognised the importance of these freedoms and the need to safeguard them. As a result, they proposed the inclusion of a Bill of Rights, guaranteeing civil liberties, including freedom of speech, religion, and the press. This proposal was a crucial factor in securing the support of the dissenting states and advancing the ratification process.
The First Amendment, adopted in 1791, explicitly protects these fundamental freedoms. It states that "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances." This amendment ensures that the government cannot restrict or retaliate against an individual's expression of opinions, ideas, or religious beliefs.
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No mention of departments within the executive branch
The US Constitution, drafted in 1787, was a remarkable achievement by the 55 men gathered in Philadelphia that summer. The document, signed on September 17, 1787, established the government of the United States.
The Constitution that emerged from the convention established a federal government with more specific powers, including those related to conducting relations with foreign governments. Under the reformed federal system, many of the responsibilities for foreign affairs fell under the authority of an executive branch. However, the Constitution did not stipulate the existence of departments within the executive branch.
The need for such departments was recognized immediately. While the Constitution did not specify the creation of departments within the executive branch, Congress passed legislation soon after its ratification to address this. In its first session in 1789, Congress created the Department of Foreign Affairs, later renamed the Department of State after additional domestic duties were assigned to it.
The establishment of this department was an important step in the organization of the executive branch and the conduct of foreign affairs. It demonstrated the flexibility and adaptability of the Constitution, as the founding fathers recognized the need for a department to manage foreign relations and took steps to establish it.
The absence of a mention of departments within the executive branch in the original Constitution can be attributed to the complexity and scope of the document. The delegates to the Constitutional Convention were focused on creating a framework for the government and addressing issues such as the balance of power between the states and the central government. The specific organization and structure of the executive branch were left to be determined at a later stage, with Congress taking the lead in establishing the necessary departments.
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No mention of how representatives should be elected
The United States Constitution was drafted in the summer of 1787 by fifty-five men gathered in Philadelphia. The Constitutional Convention was convened to address the problems of the weak central government that existed under the Articles of Confederation. The Convention's goal was to amend the Articles of Confederation, but the delegates ultimately created an entirely new form of government with a federal government and more specific powers.
One of the chief points of discussion during the drafting of the Constitution was how representatives should be elected. However, the final document, signed on September 17, 1787, did not include specific details on the election process for representatives.
The absence of a clear election process for representatives in the 1787 Constitution highlights an important aspect of the document's evolution. The Constitution was designed to be a flexible framework that could be adapted over time. The Founding Fathers recognized that the nation's needs would change and evolve, and they intentionally left certain aspects, such as the election process, open to future interpretation and amendment.
This omission also reflects the complex nature of the issue. At the time, there were differing opinions and no clear consensus on how representatives should be elected. By leaving the specifics undefined, the Founding Fathers allowed for future generations to shape the election process based on the needs and values of their time.
The process of electing representatives has since been refined and clarified through subsequent amendments, legislation, and political practices. The lack of initial detail on this matter in the 1787 Constitution, therefore, provided the flexibility needed for the young nation to develop and refine its democratic processes.
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No mention of how much power to allow the central government
The United States Constitution was drafted in 1787 by 55 delegates to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia. The convention was convened to address the problems of the weak central government that existed under the Articles of Confederation. The Articles of Confederation, the document that governed the country prior to the Constitution, was tailored to a newly formed nation made up of states acting more like independent, sovereign countries.
The Constitution that emerged from the 1787 convention established a federal government with more specific powers, including those related to conducting relations with foreign governments. However, one of the chief points of contention during the drafting process was how much power to grant the central government. The delegates debated and redrafted the articles of the Constitution throughout the summer, and by mid-June, it became clear that they would be drafting an entirely new form of government rather than amending the existing Articles.
The final document, signed by 38 or 39 of the 41 or 42 delegates present on September 17, 1787, established a framework for negotiating issues of state and national power. It created a model of government that relied on a series of checks and balances by dividing federal authority between the legislative, judicial, and executive branches. This balance between governmental power and personal liberty was a remarkable achievement that has been challenging to replicate in other constitutions.
Despite this achievement, there was little certainty among the delegates about how this balancing act would work in practice. Benjamin Franklin, the oldest delegate at 81 years old, acknowledged that there were "several parts of this Constitution which I do not at present approve." However, he respected the judgment of his fellow delegates and asked them to "doubt a little of his own infallibility." The Constitution came into effect in 1789 after the necessary number of state ratifications and has served as the basis of the United States Government ever since.
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No mention of the number of representatives in Congress for each state
The United States Constitution was drafted in 1787 by fifty-five men who gathered in Philadelphia in the Assembly Room of the Pennsylvania State House. This group of men, later known as the Founding Fathers, created a four-page document that established the government of the United States.
One of the chief points of contention during the drafting of the Constitution was the question of how many representatives each state should have in Congress. This was a complex issue, as it was closely tied to the matter of how these representatives would be elected—directly by the people or through some other means.
The Founding Fathers recognized the need to create a balance between governmental power and personal liberty. They aimed to address the problems of the weak central government that existed under the Articles of Confederation, which had granted significant autonomy to individual states and lacked the power to enforce laws at the federal level.
The Constitutional Convention ultimately resulted in the proposal and creation of a completely new form of government, with a federal government possessing more specific powers, including those related to conducting foreign relations.
While the Constitution did not specify the exact number of representatives each state should have in Congress, it established a framework for negotiating issues of state and national power. The document also created a system of checks and balances by dividing federal authority between the legislative, judicial, and executive branches of government.
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Frequently asked questions
The Constitutional Convention of 1787 aimed to address the weaknesses of the central government under the Articles of Confederation. The convention ultimately led to the creation of a new form of government with a federal system.
The delegates debated and drafted articles on how much power the central government should have, the number of representatives in Congress for each state, and how these representatives should be elected.
The convention resulted in the creation of the United States Constitution, a four-page document signed on September 17, 1787. The Constitution established a federal government with more specific powers, including those related to foreign relations.
Yes, some states opposed the Constitution because it did not provide explicit protections for certain rights, such as freedom of speech, religion, and the press.
The Constitution needed to be ratified by nine of the 13 existing states to become binding. The first state to ratify was Delaware on December 7, 1787, followed by Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticut. The Constitution came into effect in 1789 after the necessary state ratifications.
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