The Constitution: Original Colonies' Approval

The United States Constitution was approved by the original 13 colonies on March 1, 1781. The Articles of Confederation, the country's first constitution, was drafted in mid-June 1777 and adopted by the Continental Congress on November 15, 1777. It took more than three years for all 13 colonies to ratify the document, with Maryland being the last state to do so on March 1, 1781. The Articles established a league of friendship among the 13 independent states, with each state retaining sovereignty and independence. However, the Articles had several flaws, including a weak central government, lack of standard currency, and inability to regulate commerce, leading to calls for a new constitution. The Constitutional Convention assembled in Philadelphia in May 1787 to revise the Articles, and the new Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787. It was then submitted to the Congress of the Confederation and ratified by 11 states by September 13, 1788, officially enacting the new government.

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The Articles of Confederation

The process of drafting the Articles of Confederation was marked by debates and compromises. One of the fiercest arguments was over congressional representation, specifically whether it should be based on population or divided equally among the states. A compromise was reached, with each state having one representative for every 30,000 people in the House of Representatives and two representatives in the Senate. Additionally, enslaved Africans were counted as three-fifths of a person, and the delegates agreed that the slave trade could continue until 1808.

Ratification by the 13 colonies

The ratification of the US Constitution by the 13 colonies was a lengthy process that spanned several years. The Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, by 39 of the Constitutional Convention's 55 delegates, and was then sent to the states for debate and ratification votes. The process required the approval of nine out of 13 states, according to Article VII of the proposed Constitution, which outlined the ratification procedure. This was a departure from the Articles of Confederation, which required unanimous approval of all states for any amendments.

The first state to ratify the Constitution was Delaware, which did so unanimously on December 7, 1787. This was followed by Pennsylvania on December 12, New Jersey on December 19, and Georgia on January 2, 1788, with both states also ratifying unanimously. The process continued throughout 1788, with Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, and South Carolina joining the list of ratifying states. On June 21, 1788, New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify the Constitution, making it the official framework for the government of the United States of America.

It is important to note that the ratification process was contentious and faced opposition in some states. The final two states to ratify the Constitution were Virginia and New York, which approved it in 1788 and 1789, respectively. By May 29, 1790, all 13 colonies had eventually ratified the Constitution.

The Constitution superseded the Articles of Confederation, which served as the nation's first constitution. The Articles of Confederation were ratified by all 13 colonies and came into effect on March 1, 1781. However, they were found to be ineffective in meeting the young nation's needs, leading to the drafting and ratification of the new Constitution.

Independence from Great Britain

The American Revolution, the conflict that led to the United States' independence from Great Britain, was a long and protracted affair. The roots of the conflict can be traced back to the 1760s and early 1770s, when the North American colonists became increasingly frustrated with British imperial policies, particularly regarding taxation and frontier policy. Despite attempts at reconciliation, repeated protests failed to influence British policies, and in fact, resulted in retaliatory actions such as the closing of the port of Boston and the declaration of martial law in Massachusetts. These actions further strained the relationship between the colonies and the British Crown.

By the mid-1770s, sentiment for independence was growing. On May 15, 1776, Virginia instructed its delegates to the Continental Congress to declare the colonies "free and independent states." On June 7, 1776, a resolution was introduced in Congress, declaring the union with Great Britain dissolved and proposing the formation of foreign alliances. On July 4, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was adopted by the Continental Congress, officially severing the political connections between the 13 American colonies and Great Britain.

The Declaration of Independence was a significant turning point, as it allowed for the official recognition of the United States by foreign governments. It also enabled the American colonists to confirm an alliance with the Government of France, obtaining French assistance in the war against Great Britain. However, it is important to note that the British Government initially tried to downplay the Declaration, dismissing it as a trivial document issued by disgruntled colonists.

The path towards a fully independent nation was not without its challenges. The Articles of Confederation, which served as the first constitution of the United States, were adopted by the Continental Congress on November 15, 1777. However, ratification by all 13 colonies took more than three years and was completed on March 1, 1781. The Articles gave limited power to the central government, and the young nation faced significant challenges, including economic woes and a weak central government.

In May 1787, the Constitutional Convention assembled in Philadelphia to address these issues and revise the Articles of Confederation. After a summer of highly charged debate, the new Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787. The Constitution was then submitted to the Congress of the Confederation, and on September 13, 1788, a resolution was passed to put the new Constitution into operation. On April 30, 1789, George Washington was inaugurated as the first President of the United States, marking a significant step in the country's independence and the establishment of a strong national government.

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The Continental Congress

The First Continental Congress convened in Philadelphia in 1774 in response to escalating tensions between the colonies and Great Britain. The British Parliament had passed a series of laws known as the Intolerable Acts, which were intended to suppress unrest in colonial Boston. In response, colonial protestors led by the Sons of Liberty called for a boycott. The First Congress adopted what became known as the Declaration and Resolves of the First Continental Congress, which included a statement of rights and principles, many of which were later incorporated into the Declaration of Independence and the Federal Constitution.

The Second Continental Congress succeeded the First, meeting from 1775 to 1781, also predominantly in Philadelphia. The Second Congress functioned as the de facto federation government during the Revolutionary War by raising militias, directing strategy, appointing diplomats, and writing petitions. On June 14, 1775, the Second Continental Congress voted to create the Continental Army, and the next day they approved George Washington as its commanding general. The Congress also drafted the Olive Branch Petition, which attempted to resolve disputes between the colonies and Great Britain, but King George III refused to receive it.

During this period, the Second Continental Congress also managed the war effort, drafted the Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union, adopted the first U.S. constitution, secured diplomatic recognition and support from foreign nations, and resolved state land claims west of the Appalachian Mountains.

On July 2, 1776, the Second Continental Congress formally approved the resolution of independence, and two days later, on July 4, they approved the United States Declaration of Independence. The Congress also adopted a Model Treaty, which established amity and commerce with other states, and sent commissioners to France to negotiate a formal alliance, which was achieved in 1778.

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. Ratification by all 13 colonies took several years and was completed on March 1, 1781, when the Articles of Confederation established a new national government for the United States.

The Constitutional Convention

The delegates to the convention created a model of government that divided federal authority between the Legislative, the Judicial, and the Executive branches. The role of the executive was hotly debated, including issues such as whether executive power should be divided among three people or vested in a single chief executive, how a president would be elected, and the length of a presidential term. Other contentious issues included slavery, with delegates debating the insertion of a fugitive slave clause, the abolition of the slave trade, and whether slaves should be counted in proportional representation.

The new Constitution was signed in mid-September 1787 and was submitted to the Congress of the Confederation. After the necessary number of state ratifications, the Constitution came into effect in 1789 and has served as the basis of the United States Government ever since.

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