Eleanor Finch
Between 1781 and 1789, the United States was governed by the Articles of Confederation, its first constitution. The Articles were ratified by all 13 colonies on March 1, 1781, and established a league of friendship between the colonies, which were now sovereign and independent states. However, the Articles gave little power to the central government, and by the mid-1780s, there were calls for a stronger federal government. In 1787, delegates from the states met at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia and drafted a new constitution, which was presented to the American public on September 17, 1787. After significant ratification debates, the new Constitution came into force on March 4, 1789, replacing the Articles of Confederation as the supreme law of the land.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Time period | 1781 to 1789 |
| Constitution | The Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union was the first constitution of the United States. |
| Powers of the central government | The Articles gave little power to the central government. While the Confederation Congress had some decision-making abilities, it lacked enforcement powers. |
| Ratification | Ratification by the 13 colonies took more than three years and was completed on March 1, 1781. |
| Amendments | The first ten amendments are called the Bill of Rights. |
| Federal government | The Articles established a weak federal government. |
| Constitution of 1789 | The Constitution of 1789 superseded the Articles of Confederation and established a stronger federal government with a chief executive (the president), courts, and taxing powers. |
| Number of amendments | The Constitution has been amended 27 times since 1789. |
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What You'll Learn
The Articles of Confederation
Between 1781 and 1789, the constitution that was in force in the United States of America was the Articles of Confederation. The Articles of Confederation, officially the Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union, was the nation's first constitution and came into force on March 1, 1781, after being ratified by all 13 colonies. It was established as a “league of friendship” and a constitution for the 13 sovereign and independent states after the American Revolution.
The new Constitution provided for a much stronger federal government by establishing a chief executive (the president), courts, and taxing powers. It superseded the Articles of Confederation on March 4, 1789, and has been amended 27 times since it became operational.
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The Constitutional Convention
James Madison, who arrived in Philadelphia eleven days early, was determined to set the agenda for the convention. Before the convention, Madison studied historical republics and confederacies, such as ancient Greece and contemporary Switzerland. He drafted a document titled "Vices of the Political System of the United States," which offered solutions to the weaknesses of the American political system. Madison believed that a strong central government was necessary to address the country's problems. He proposed that Congress should have compulsory taxation authority and the power to regulate foreign and interstate commerce.
The convention was held in the Pennsylvania State House, later renamed Independence Hall, in Philadelphia. Delegates from all states except Rhode Island were present, and they elected George Washington of Virginia, former commanding general of the Continental Army in the American Revolutionary War, to serve as President of the convention. The delegates debated and resolved various issues, including the balance of power between the central government and the states, the number of representatives each state should have in Congress, and how these representatives should be elected.
Slavery was also a contentious issue, with delegates debating the insertion of a fugitive slave clause, the potential abolition of the slave trade, and whether slaves should be counted in proportional representation. The Connecticut Compromise in mid-July 1787 helped resolve many lingering arguments, and a draft written by the Committee of Detail gained acceptance. Over the following weeks, further modifications and compromises were made, and the Committee of Style produced the final version of the Constitution in early September. The Constitution was then voted on by the delegates, signed by 39 of the 55 delegates, and ratified in 1789, establishing a federal government with more specific powers, including those related to conducting foreign relations.
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The Virginia Plan
After much debate and the failure of the New Jersey Plan, the delegates worked to shape the Virginia Plan into a document that would be accepted by states of all sizes. This led to the Connecticut Compromise, which created a House of Representatives apportioned by population and a Senate in which each state is equally represented. The Virginia Plan eventually became the foundation of the Constitution of the United States, which was presented to the American public on September 17, 1787, and became law on June 21, 1788. The Constitution superseded the Articles of Confederation on March 4, 1789, and has been amended 27 times since it became operational.
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The New Jersey Plan
Between 1781 and 1789, the United States was governed by the Articles of Confederation, the nation's first constitution. However, the Articles were considered inadequate by many, including James Madison, who believed they gave too much power to the states and insufficient power to the central government. Madison's labors in studying history and political theory convinced him of the futility of confederacies of independent states.
In 1787, delegates from across the states convened at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia to debate and determine the structure of the US government. One of the proposals put forth at this convention was the New Jersey Plan, introduced by William Paterson, the head of the New Jersey delegation. The plan consisted of nine resolutions:
Firstly, the New Jersey Plan advocated for retaining the unicameral system of legislature outlined under the Articles of Confederation, while allowing for revisions. Secondly, it sought to expand the powers of Congress, granting it the authority to collect import duties, raise taxes, and regulate commerce and foreign affairs. The third resolution established the three-fifths rule, whereby the number of enslaved people in a state would be considered when determining its population for proportional funding requests from Congress.
The fourth resolution proposed an executive branch consisting of multiple individuals, who could be removed by a majority vote of the states. The fifth resolution called for a federal judiciary appointed by the executive branch. The remaining resolutions are not as well-documented but likely elaborated on these core proposals.
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Ratification
Between 1781 and 1789, the United States was governed by the Articles of Confederation, its first constitution. The Articles of Confederation were established as a "league of friendship" and a constitution for the 13 sovereign and independent states after the Revolution. The document was drafted by a committee appointed by the Second Continental Congress in mid-June 1777 and was adopted by the full Congress in mid-November of that year. Ratification by the 13 colonies took more than three years and was completed on March 1, 1781.
The Articles of Confederation gave little power to the central government. While the Confederation Congress had some decision-making abilities, it lacked enforcement powers. The implementation of most decisions, including amendments to the Articles, required legislative approval by all 13 newly formed states.
Many of America's leaders believed that future stability required a stronger, more centralized government. New York's Alexander Hamilton led the call for a constitutional convention to reevaluate the nation's governing document. Representatives from all 13 states were invited to convene in Philadelphia on May 25, 1787, to participate in the Convention.
The Convention concluded on September 17, 1787, with the signing of the new U.S. Constitution by 38 out of 41 delegates present. Under Article VII, it was agreed that the document would not be binding until its ratification by nine of the 13 existing states. Delaware was the first state to ratify the Constitution on December 7, 1787, followed by Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticut. On June 21, 1788, New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify, and the Constitution became the official framework of the government of the United States of America.
After ratification, Congress set dates for the first federal elections and the official implementation of the Constitution. Elections were set to take place from December 15, 1788, to January 10, 1789, and the new government was set to begin on March 4, 1789. In the nation's first presidential election, George Washington was elected President and John Adams was elected Vice President.
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Frequently asked questions
Between 1781 and 1789, the US Constitution was being drafted and debated. The Articles of Confederation, which was the nation's first constitution, came into force on March 1, 1781, and was replaced by the US Constitution on March 4, 1789.
In 1787, the US Constitution was being drafted and debated at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia. The convention was attended by delegates from every state except Rhode Island. The convention debated the representation in the two houses of the new national legislature, with large states arguing for representation based on population, and small states wanting equal representation.
In 1788, the US Constitution was being ratified by the states. By the end of July 1788, 11 of the 13 states had ratified the new Constitution. On June 21, 1788, the Constitution became law when two-thirds of the states ratified it.
