Omar Bennett
The US Constitution, the supreme law of the United States, was signed on September 17, 1787, by 38 out of 41 delegates. However, it only became the official framework of the government of the United States on June 21, 1788, when New Hampshire became the ninth of 13 states to ratify it. The US Constitution superseded the Articles of Confederation, the nation's first constitution, on March 4, 1789, when the first Congress was convened. The Constitution was not ratified by all states until May 29, 1790, when Rhode Island finally approved the document.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of signing | September 17, 1787 |
| Number of delegates signing | 38 out of 41 |
| Date it became official | June 21, 1788 |
| Number of states ratifying | 9 out of 13 |
| First state to ratify | Delaware |
| Date of first federal elections | December 15, 1788 |
| Date of official implementation | March 4, 1789 |
| First President | George Washington |
| First Vice President | John Adams |
| Date all states ratified | May 29, 1790 |
| Date Bill of Rights ratified | 1791 |
| Date of capital location | July 16, 1790 |
| Date of 150th anniversary | 1937 |
| Date of Twentieth Amendment | 1933 |
| Date of Twenty-second Amendment | 1951 |
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What You'll Learn
The Constitutional Convention of 1787
The United States Constitution was drafted during the summer of 1787 at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia. The convention took place between May 25 and September 17, 1787, and was attended by delegates from 12 of the 13 states (Rhode Island did not send delegates). George Washington of Virginia, a proponent of a stronger national government, was unanimously elected president of the convention.
The convention was initially intended to revise the Articles of Confederation and create the first system of federal government. However, leading proponents of the convention, including James Madison of Virginia and Alexander Hamilton of New York, sought to create an entirely new frame of government. Madison, who had studied republics and confederacies throughout history, believed that the solution to America's problems lay in a strong central government. He proposed that Congress be given compulsory taxation authority as well as the power to regulate foreign and interstate commerce.
The delegates to the convention 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. The convention debated several contentious issues, including slavery, the insertion of a fugitive slave clause, the abolition of the slave trade, and whether slaves should be counted in proportional representation. Another major unresolved problem was the method of electing the executive.
The final version of the Constitution was produced in early September and was voted on by the delegates. It was signed by 39 of the 55 delegates on September 17, 1787. The Constitution came into effect in 1789 after the necessary number of state ratifications, and it has served as the basis of the United States Government ever since.
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The Articles of Confederation
The process of drafting the Articles of Confederation began in 1776, when the Continental Congress appointed committees to work on a declaration of independence and a plan for the confederation of the colonies. Benjamin Franklin proposed the "Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union", which received mixed support from delegates such as Thomas Jefferson. The final draft of the Articles was completed in November 1777, and the document was submitted to the states for ratification.
The ratification process proved challenging, with several states refusing to ratify initially due to disputes over western land claims. Virginia was the first state to ratify on December 16, 1777, and by February 1779, 12 states had ratified the Articles. Maryland was the last state to ratify, finally doing so on March 1, 1781, after the other states pressured it by endorsing the formation of a national government without them.
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Ratification by nine states
The United States Constitution was signed by 38 delegates on September 17, 1787. However, it was not immediately binding, and the document stipulated that it would only come into force once it had been ratified by nine of the 13 existing states.
The Federalists, who believed that a strong central government was necessary, faced opposition from Anti-Federalists, who fought against the Constitution because it created a powerful central government and lacked a bill of rights. The ratification campaign was a close call, and the Federalists needed to convert at least three states.
The tide turned in Massachusetts, where the "vote now, amend later" compromise helped secure victory. The constitution was subsequently ratified by Massachusetts, Maryland, and South Carolina. On June 21, 1788, New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify the Constitution, and the Confederation Congress established March 4, 1789, as the date to begin operating a new government under the Constitution.
The first federal elections were held from Monday, December 15, 1788, to Saturday, January 10, 1789. In the nation's first presidential election, George Washington was elected President, and John Adams was elected Vice President.
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The Bill of Rights
The US Constitution, the supreme law of the United States, came into effect on March 4, 1789, after being ratified by 9 of the 13 states. The journey to ratification was long and arduous, with Anti-Federalists fighting hard against the Constitution due to their concerns about a powerful central government and the lack of a bill of rights.
The tide turned in Massachusetts, where the "vote now, amend later" compromise helped secure victory and eventually led to the inclusion of the Bill of Rights. The Massachusetts Compromise, reached in February 1788, stipulated that amendments would be immediately proposed to protect rights such as freedom of speech, religion, and the press. This compromise played a crucial role in convincing enough states to ratify the Constitution and set the stage for the eventual adoption of the Bill of Rights.
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The US Constitution today
The US Constitution, the supreme law of the United States, came into effect on March 4, 1789, after being ratified by 9 of the 13 states. It superseded the Articles of Confederation, the nation's first constitution. The US Constitution is the fundamental framework of America's system of government, dividing the powers of government into three branches: the legislative, the executive, and the judicial. It also sets up a system of checks and balances to ensure no branch has too much power, and divides power between the states and the federal government.
The Constitution has been amended several times since its ratification, with one of the most notable amendments being the Bill of Rights, which was ratified in 1791. The Bill of Rights includes the first ten amendments to the Constitution and guarantees various individual liberties, such as freedom of speech, religion, and press.
Another significant amendment to the Constitution is the Twentieth Amendment, which was ratified in 1933. This amendment changed the date on which a new president, vice president, and Congress take office, shortening the transition period between Election Day and the beginning of their terms. The Twenty-second Amendment, ratified in 1951, is also notable as it limits an elected president to two terms in office, for a total of eight years.
The US Constitution is considered one of the longest-lived and most emulated constitutions in the world. However, some scholars argue that it is the most difficult constitution in the world to amend, which has contributed to the persistence of undemocratic institutions in the United States. Despite this criticism, the US Constitution remains the foundation of the country's governance and continues to shape American politics and society.
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Frequently asked questions
The US Constitution became the official framework of the government of the United States of America on June 21, 1788, when New Hampshire became the ninth of 13 states to ratify it. The new government was set to begin on March 4, 1789.
The US Constitution was drafted in 1787. The Constitutional Convention assembled in Philadelphia in May of that year, and on September 17, 38 out of 41 delegates signed the new Constitution.
The US Constitution was ratified in 1788. The first state to ratify the Constitution was Delaware on December 7, 1787, followed by Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, Connecticut, and then New Hampshire.
