Omar Bennett
The Constitution of the United States was drafted in 1787 and ratified in 1789, with amendments being made until 1791. The constitution was the result of a convention of state delegates in Philadelphia, called by the Confederation Congress, to revise the Articles of Confederation, which had served as the first constitution of the United States since 1781. The new constitution was intended to address the shortcomings of the Articles, which had left the central government with little power and had failed to provide the stability that the new nation required. The constitution-making process was influenced by the political thought of the Enlightenment, with figures like Montesquieu, Locke, and Hobbes shaping the ideas of natural rights, social contract, and consent of the governed that would underpin the new republic. The United States Constitution has since undergone amendments and interpretations, but it remains the foundation of the US government and a testament to the country's journey towards a more perfect union.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of the signing of the US Constitution | 17th Day of September 1787 |
| Date the US Constitution became the official framework of the government of the United States of America | June 21, 1788 |
| Date the US Constitution was ratified by all states | May 29, 1790 |
| Date the Bill of Rights was ratified | December 15, 1791 |
| Date of the first presidential election | December 15, 1788 to January 10, 1789 |
| First President of the United States | George Washington |
| First Vice President of the United States | John Adams |
| Date the location of the capital was decided | July 16, 1790 |
| Date land was designated for the construction of the capital | January 24, 1791 |
| Date of the Glorious Revolution | 1688 |
| Notable political philosophers and theorists | John Locke, Thomas Hobbes, Thomas Paine, William Blackstone, John Adams, Montesquieu |
| Notable political figures | George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Rufus King, Robert Morris, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, James Wilson, Thomas Jefferson |
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What You'll Learn
The Articles of Confederation
However, by the mid-1780s, the young nation was facing economic disaster, and the central government had little power to settle disputes between states. In February 1787, the Confederation Congress called a convention of state delegates in Philadelphia to propose revisions to the Articles. The convention was intended to "render the federal constitution adequate to the exigencies of government and the preservation of the Union". This led to the drafting of the United States Constitution, which went into effect in 1789, replacing the Articles of Confederation.
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The Continental Congress
The Second Continental Congress convened in 1775, soon after hostilities broke out in Massachusetts. The Second Congress sent the Olive Branch Petition to King George III, established the Continental Army, and elected George Washington commander of the new army. The Second Congress continued to meet until March 1, 1781, when the Articles of Confederation that established a new national government for the United States took effect. During the war, the Continental Congress became America's de facto government, conducting diplomacy on behalf of the new United States and negotiating diplomatic agreements with foreign nations.
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The Federalists
The Federalist Party came into being between 1789 and 1791 as a national coalition of bankers and businessmen who supported Hamilton's fiscal policies. The party advocated for a strong national government that promoted economic growth and good relations with Great Britain, in opposition to Revolutionary France. They supported policies such as funding the Revolutionary War debt, creating a national bank, and maintaining a tariff system. The Federalists controlled the national government until 1801, when they were defeated by the Democratic-Republican Party led by Thomas Jefferson.
The debate between Federalists and Anti-Federalists shaped the early political landscape of the United States, with the Federalists leaving a lasting legacy in the form of a strong federal government. The critiques of the Constitution by the Anti-Federalists also influenced the creation of the Bill of Rights, which addressed some of their concerns about individual liberties and state rights.
Overall, the Federalists played a crucial role in the ratification of the US Constitution and the formation of a strong central government, which continues to shape American politics to this day.
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The ratification process
On May 25, 1787, representatives from all 13 states convened in Philadelphia to participate in a Constitutional Convention to reevaluate the nation's governing document. The convention was called by the Confederation Congress, which had become ineffective at governing. The convention was led by General George Washington, who was unanimously elected president. The goal of the convention was to revise the Articles of Confederation and create a stronger federal government.
Two factions emerged during the convention: the Federalists, who supported the Constitution, and the Anti-Federalists, who opposed it. The proposal was debated, criticized, and expounded upon clause by clause. The Federalists, including Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay, published a series of commentaries known as The Federalist Papers in support of ratification. By the end of 1787, three state legislatures had voted in favor of ratification: Delaware, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey.
In 1788, five more states approved the Constitution: Connecticut, Georgia, New Hampshire, and two others. On June 21, 1788, the Constitution became the official framework of the US government when New Hampshire became the ninth of 13 states to ratify it. However, it took until May 29, 1790, for all states to ratify the document, with Rhode Island being the last to approve. The Bill of Rights, consisting of ten amendments, was ratified on December 15, 1791.
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The Bill of Rights
The United States Constitution, which dates back to 1787, was the second constitution of the United States, following the Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union in 1777. The Constitution was not ratified by all states until May 29, 1790, when Rhode Island approved the document.
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Frequently asked questions
The US Constitution was written in 1787.
The US Constitution came into effect in 1789, following the nation’s first presidential election.
The US Constitution was ratified by all states on May 29, 1790, when Rhode Island approved the document.
