Eleanor Finch
The United States Constitution was signed in Philadelphia on May 25, 1787, by 33 of its original 55 delegates, following years of political turmoil and uncertainty. The Constitution was the second attempt at a governing document for the United States, after the Articles of Confederation, which were ratified in 1781, proved ineffective. The Articles of Confederation had created a weak central government, giving the Confederation Congress the power to make rules and request funds from the states, but no power to enforce them, regulate commerce, or print money. This led to disputes between the states over territory, war pensions, taxation, and trade, threatening to tear the young nation apart. The Constitutional Convention of 1787 was convened to revise the Articles of Confederation, but the delegates ultimately decided to scrap them and start from scratch, creating the United States Constitution, which established a stronger central government and addressed many of the flaws of the Articles. The road to ratification was not without its challenges, with Federalists and Anti-Federalists battling over the extent of central government power and the inclusion of a bill of rights.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of Convention | May 1787 |
| Location | Philadelphia |
| Purpose | To revise the Articles of Confederation |
| Outcome | Decision to redesign the government |
| Representation | One representative for every 30,000 people |
| Slavery | Allowed until 1808 |
| Ratification | Through conventions of the people |
| Bill of Rights | Added later as Amendments 1-10 |
| Electoral College | Introduced to elect the executive |
| Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists | A powerful central government vs. states' rights |
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What You'll Learn
The Articles of Confederation
In May 1787, the Constitutional Convention assembled in Philadelphia to revise the Articles of Confederation. By mid-June, the delegates had decided to completely redesign the government. After three months of highly charged debate, the new Constitution was signed, and it remains in effect today.
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The Constitutional Convention
James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and George Washington were key figures who recognised the need for a stronger national government and worked towards convening the Constitutional Convention. Madison, often referred to as the "Father of the Constitution", arrived early at the convention to present his Virginia Plan, which formed the basis for the initial discussions.
The convention was marked by intense debates over congressional representation, the method of electing the executive, and the issue of slavery. A compromise was reached on congressional representation, with each state allocated one representative for every 30,000 people in the House and two in the Senate. The delegates agreed to count enslaved Africans as three-fifths of a person, and to allow the slave trade to continue until 1808.
The delegates also grappled with the question of executive power, considering various proposals before settling on the electoral college as a compromise solution. The large states gained proportional strength in the number of delegates, while the state legislatures were granted the right to select delegates.
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The Federalists and Anti-Federalists
The Anti-Federalists, on the other hand, vehemently opposed the creation of a stronger federal government. Led by Patrick Henry of Virginia, they argued that the Constitution, as drafted, would lead to a loss of individual liberties, a weakening of state sovereignty, and the potential rise of tyranny. They viewed the powerful central government as a reminder of the monarchy they had recently overthrown and believed it would threaten the rights of states and individuals. The Anti-Federalists advocated for a more decentralized form of government with stronger state representation and greater protections for individual rights.
The Anti-Federalists fought hard against the ratification of the Constitution, but they lacked a coordinated effort across all thirteen states, which hindered their ability to effectively oppose the Federalists. The Federalists needed to convert at least three states, and the tide turned in Massachusetts, where a compromise helped secure victory. Despite their opposition, the Anti-Federalists played a significant role in shaping the final form of the Constitution. Their demands for a bill of rights influenced the Federalists, who agreed to consider amendments to the Constitution to address these concerns.
The differences between the Federalists and Anti-Federalists were complex and wide-ranging. The Federalists could be described as nationalists, while the Anti-Federalists sought to protect the interests of rural areas and farmers, believing that a large central government would not adequately represent them. The Federalists were successful in shaping the new US Constitution, which strengthened the national government and set the course for the future of the country. However, the Anti-Federalists' influence was also significant, as they helped ensure the inclusion of a bill of rights to protect the liberties they felt were threatened by the Constitution.
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The Bill of Rights
The United States Constitution was written in 1787 at a convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The convention was called to address the deficiencies of the Articles of Confederation, which was America's first constitution. The Articles of Confederation had been ratified in 1781, giving each state independence, but it had no enforcement powers, couldn't regulate commerce, and couldn't control citizen uprisings.
The delegates at the 1787 convention, led by George Washington, James Madison, and Alexander Hamilton, decided to completely redesign the government. They debated issues such as congressional representation, slavery, and the method of electing the executive. The convention ultimately resulted in the creation of a new government, with the Constitution providing for a stronger central government.
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The creation of a new government
The Constitutional Convention, led by George Washington, assembled in Philadelphia in May 1787 to address these concerns. The delegates initially intended to revise the Articles of Confederation, but by mid-June, they had decided to create a new government and completely redesign the existing system. They debated various plans and proposals, including Paterson's plan, which was ultimately rejected, and the Connecticut Compromise, which called for a bicameral legislature or Congress.
One of the fiercest arguments during the convention was over congressional representation—whether it should be based on population or divided equally among the states. A compromise was reached, giving each state one representative for every 30,000 people in the House of Representatives and two representatives in the Senate. Another contentious issue was slavery, which was temporarily resolved with the delegates agreeing that the slave trade could continue until 1808.
The Federalists, who believed in a strong central government, and the Anti-Federalists, who opposed a powerful central government, had differing views on the Constitution. The Federalists wanted to ensure at least three states supported their vision. The Anti-Federalists criticised the lack of a bill of rights, discrimination against southern states, direct taxation, and the loss of state sovereignty. Despite these objections, the Federalists prevailed, and the Constitution-building process continued.
The method of electing the executive was another unresolved issue. Various proposals were considered, and the result was the creation of the electoral college, a compromise that gave large states proportional strength in the number of delegates and allowed state legislatures to select delegates. The delegates also agreed that any new constitution should be ratified by conventions of the people rather than by Congress or state legislatures, as it was believed that ratification was more likely through this approach.
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Frequently asked questions
The US Constitution was written and signed in 1787, but the events leading up to it began years earlier. Here are some key moments:
- 1776: The Third Continental Congress convenes to create a government and address the conflict with Britain, resulting in the Articles of Confederation.
- 1781: The Articles of Confederation are ratified, creating a loose confederation of independent states.
- 1786: Shays' Rebellion occurs, highlighting the need for a stronger national government that can regulate commerce.
- 1787: The Constitutional Convention meets in Philadelphia to revise the Articles of Confederation, but they decide to create a new government instead.
- 1787: General George Washington is unanimously elected president of the Philadelphia convention, and the delegates work to compromise on issues like congressional representation and slavery.
Several individuals played key roles in the lead-up to the Constitution, including:
- James Madison: Known as the "Father of the Constitution," he proposed the Virginia Plan and helped persuade others that the new constitution should be ratified by the people.
- Alexander Hamilton: Worked alongside Madison and Washington to address the flaws in the Articles of Confederation.
- George Washington: The first president of the United States, he was unanimously elected president of the Philadelphia convention in 1787.
- James Wilson: A Federalist who defended the Constitution and helped carry the vote in Pennsylvania.
There were several contentious issues that the delegates debated during the Constitutional Convention, including:
- Congressional representation: Should it be based on population or should each state have equal representation? They compromised by creating a bicameral legislature with the House of Representatives based on population and the Senate giving equal representation to each state.
- Slavery: The delegates agreed to count enslaved Africans as three-fifths of a person and to allow the slave trade to continue until 1808.
- Bill of Rights: Some delegates refused to sign the Constitution without a Bill of Rights. James Madison introduced the Bill of Rights, which was later ratified as Amendments 1-10.
The Federalists and Anti-Federalists had opposing views on the role of the central government. The Federalists, like James Wilson, believed that a strong central government was necessary to face the nation's challenges. They supported the Constitution as a way to create a more effective government. The Anti-Federalists, like Bryan, feared that the new government would become a despotic empire dominated by wealthy families, subjugating the common people. They saw the Constitution as creating a powerful central government that resembled the one they had just overthrown.
