The American Constitution: Pre-Revolutionary War Roots

Before the American Revolutionary War, each state had its own constitution. The war, which lasted from 1775 to 1783, was fought against British rule and culminated in the Declaration of Independence in 1776. In the same year, Congress created a committee to craft a constitution for the new nation. The Articles of Confederation, America's first constitution, gave the Confederation Congress the power to make rules and request funds from the states, but it lacked enforcement powers and could not regulate commerce or print money. The weak central government established by the Articles proved ineffective, and disputes between the states threatened to tear the young country apart. In 1787, delegates from twelve states assembled in Philadelphia to revise the Articles and create a new system of government, resulting in the United States Constitution, which was ratified in 1788 and established a more effective federal government.

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The Articles of Confederation

The period between the end of the American Revolutionary War and the ratification of the Constitution is known as the Confederation Period. During this time, the United States was governed by the Articles of Confederation, which created a loose confederation of states with a weak central government.

The Articles established a weak central government with limited authority, and the states often refused to comply with its decisions. This led to disputes over territory, war pensions, taxation, and trade, threatening to tear the young nation apart. The Articles also failed to prevent states from pursuing their own independent policies, such as Georgia's attempts to occupy disputed territories with Spanish Florida, threatening war if Spanish officials did not curb Indian attacks or refrain from harbouring escaped slaves.

The ineffectiveness of the Articles of Confederation led to a critical period in American history, with many believing the country was experiencing a leadership crisis. This prompted calls for a stronger central government and eventually led to the Constitutional Convention of 1787, where delegates from the states met to revise the Articles and create a new system of government.

The Second Continental Congress

On July 4, 1776, as the war continued and two days after endorsing the Lee Resolution to break from British control, Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence. At exactly the same time that Congress declared independence, it also created a committee to craft a constitution for the new nation.

The Committee of 1776

Before the American Revolutionary War, each state had its own constitution. The war began in April 1775 with the Battles of Lexington and Concord. On July 4, 1776, two days after endorsing the Lee Resolution to break from British control, Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence.

The Committee of Five was also responsible for drafting what would become the United States Declaration of Independence. On June 28, 1776, the committee presented their draft to the "Committee of the Whole" Congress. This copy included changes such as simplifying Jefferson's phrase "preservation of life, & liberty, & the pursuit of happiness" to the more succinct "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

The Continental Congress also established the Committee of Secret Correspondence in 1775 to communicate with sympathetic Britons and other Europeans early in the American Revolution. The committee coordinated diplomatic functions for the Continental Congress and directed transatlantic communication and public relations. Members of the committee included Benjamin Franklin, Benjamin Harrison, Thomas Johnson, John Dickinson, John Jay, and Robert Morris.

After the American Revolutionary War, the states joined together to set up a Federal Government under the Articles of Confederation. The Articles turned out to be a weak system of government, and Congress met in 1787 to establish a new constitution. The new constitution was ratified in 1788, and the new federal government began meeting in 1789, marking the end of the Confederation period.

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The Grand Convention of 1787

The American Revolutionary War ended in 1783 with the signing of the Treaty of Paris, after which the states joined together to set up a federal government under the Articles of Confederation. However, the Articles of Confederation were a weak system of government, and the country faced several challenges due to the lack of an effective central government. James Madison of Virginia, Alexander Hamilton of New York, and George Washington feared that their young country was on the brink of collapse. The Articles had given 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.

In 1786, Charles Cotesworth Pinckney of South Carolina led the creation of a grand congressional committee to consider constitutional amendments. Shays' Rebellion (1786-1787) further worried many Founders that the Union was in danger of breaking apart. In September 1786, delegates from five states met at the Annapolis Convention and invited all states to a larger convention to be held in Philadelphia in 1787.

On February 21, 1787, the Confederation Congress endorsed this convention "for the sole and express purpose of revising the Articles of Confederation". James Madison arrived in Philadelphia eleven days early and was determined to set the convention's agenda. He studied republics and confederacies throughout history and drafted a document titled "Vices of the Political System of the United States," which offered solutions to the weaknesses of the American political system.

The Constitutional Convention, also known as the Grand Convention of 1787, took place in Philadelphia from May 25 to September 17, 1787. George Washington of Virginia, a proponent of a stronger national government, was elected to serve as President of the convention. The convention debated and ratified the Constitution of the United States, making it one of the most significant events in American history.

The delegates debated what should be included in the Constitution. Large states felt they should have more representation in Congress, while small states wanted equal representation. They also debated the insertion of a fugitive slave clause, whether to allow the abolition of the slave trade, and whether slaves were to be counted in proportional representation. The delegates created a bicameral legislative branch, which gave equal representation to each state in the Senate and representation based on population in the House of Representatives. The Constitution also created an executive branch and a judicial branch to set up a system of checks and balances.

The final version of the Constitution was voted on by the delegates, inscribed on parchment, and signed by 39 of 55 delegates on September 17, 1787. The new federal government commenced operations with the seating of the 1st Congress in March 1789 and the inauguration of Washington the following month.

The Ratification of 1789

The period after the American Revolutionary War and before the ratification of the United States Constitution in 1789 is known as the Confederation Period. During this time, the United States faced several challenges due to the lack of an effective central government and a unified political culture. 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, or print money.

The weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation became increasingly apparent, and it became clear that a stronger, more centralized government was needed for future stability. As a result, a Constitutional Convention was called in 1787, with representatives from all 13 states meeting in Philadelphia to address the problems of the weak central government and create a new constitution. The convention included respected and talented men such as George Washington, who was named president, as well as Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay.

The Constitutional Convention debated the form of the new government, with large states arguing for more representation in Congress, while small states wanted equal representation. The convention ultimately decided on a bicameral legislative branch, giving equal representation to each state in the Senate and representation based on population in the House of Representatives. An executive branch and a judicial branch were also established to create a system of checks and balances, ensuring that no single branch held more power than the others.

The new constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, by 38 out of 41 delegates present, and it was agreed that it would come into effect once ratified by nine of the 13 states. Delaware was the first state to ratify the Constitution on December 7, 1787, and on June 21, 1788, New Hampshire became the ninth state to do so, making the Constitution the official framework of the government of the United States. The federal government commenced operations in March 1789, with the seating of the 1st Congress and the inauguration of Washington the following month.

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