Malcolm Rivera
When the US Constitution came into effect in 1789, it superseded the Articles of Confederation, which was the nation's first constitution. The Constitution was ratified by 11 states on September 17, 1787, and the first federal elections were held from December 15, 1788, to January 10, 1789. The new government, led by President George Washington and Vice President John Adams, officially began on March 4, 1789. The Constitution has been amended 27 times since it came into effect, with the first ten amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, ratified on December 15, 1791.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date the Constitution became operational | 4 March 1789 |
| Date the Constitution was ratified | 21 June 1788 |
| Number of amendments since 1789 | 27 |
| Number of amendments in the Bill of Rights | 10 |
| Date the Bill of Rights was ratified | 15 December 1791 |
| Date the Constitution was ratified by all states | 29 May 1790 |
| Date the location of the capital was decided | 16 July 1790 |
| Date the first Congress was set to meet | 7 January 1789 |
| Date of the first presidential election | 4 February 1789 |
| Date the first senators and representatives were chosen | 7 January 1789 |
| Date the Department of Foreign Affairs was created | 1789 |
| Date the Department of Foreign Affairs was renamed the Department of State | 1789 |
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What You'll Learn
The Constitution was ratified in 1789
The United States Constitution, the country's supreme law, came into effect in 1789. It superseded the Articles of Confederation, which was the first US Constitution. The Articles of Confederation gave the Confederation Congress the power to make rules and request funds from the states, but it had no enforcement powers, couldn't regulate commerce, or print money. The states' disputes over territory, war pensions, taxation, and trade threatened to tear the young country apart.
The Constitution was ratified on June 21, 1788, when New Hampshire became the ninth of 13 states to ratify it. The journey to ratification was challenging, with Anti-Federalists fighting hard against the Constitution because it created a powerful central government and lacked a bill of rights. However, the Federalists, who believed in a strong central government, managed to secure victory with the ""vote now, amend later" compromise in Massachusetts, which eventually led to the ratification of the Constitution.
The Constitution's first three articles embody the doctrine of the separation of powers, dividing the federal government into three branches: the legislative, consisting of the bicameral Congress (Article I); the executive, consisting of the president and subordinate officers (Article II); and the judicial, consisting of the Supreme Court and other federal courts (Article III).
After the Constitution was ratified, Congress set dates for the first federal elections and the official implementation of the Constitution. The first presidential election was held from Monday, December 15, 1788, to Saturday, January 10, 1789, and the new government, led by President George Washington and Vice President John Adams, was inaugurated on March 4, 1789.
Since its ratification, the Constitution has been amended 27 times to expand individual civil rights protections and address issues related to federal authority and government processes.
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The Bill of Rights
The Constitution of the United States, which came into effect in 1789, is the supreme law of the United States of America. It superseded the Articles of Confederation, the nation's first constitution, on March 4, 1789. The Constitution was ratified by the Confederation Congress on September 13, 1788, after New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify it on June 21, 1788.
The amendments of the Bill of Rights add to the Constitution specific guarantees of personal freedoms, such as freedom of speech, the right to publish, practice religion, possess firearms, assemble, and other natural and legal rights. The first amendment prohibits Congress from making laws establishing religion or abridging freedom of speech. The fourth amendment safeguards citizens' right to be free from unreasonable government intrusion in their homes through the requirement of a warrant. The second amendment states that "a well-regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed." The third amendment states that "no soldier shall, in time of peace, be quartered in any house, without the consent of the owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law."
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The three branches of government
The United States Constitution, which came into effect in 1789, is the supreme law of the United States of America. It superseded the Articles of Confederation, the nation's first constitution, on March 4, 1789. The Constitution has been amended 27 times since it became operational in 1789. The first ten amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, protect individual liberty and justice and restrict government powers within the US states.
The Constitution's first three articles embody the separation of powers, dividing the federal government into three branches: the legislative, executive, and judicial.
The legislative branch, as described in Article I, consists of the bicameral Congress, which includes the Senate and the House of Representatives. This branch is responsible for making laws. The executive branch, described in Article II, consists of the President, who is responsible for enforcing the laws made by the legislative branch, and subordinate officers. The President is supported by the Cabinet, which includes the Vice President, heads of executive departments, and other high-ranking government officials. The executive branch also includes executive departments, independent agencies, and other boards, commissions, and committees.
The judicial branch, described in Article III, consists of the Supreme Court and other federal courts, including lower courts located in each state. The Supreme Court has nine Justices who interpret laws according to the Constitution and hear cases pertaining to constitutional issues. The Federal Judicial Center is the educational and research agency for the federal courts.
Each branch of government has the ability to respond to the actions of the other branches through a system of checks and balances. For example, the President can veto legislation created by Congress, but Congress can also remove the President from office in exceptional circumstances.
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The Articles of Confederation
The Dickinson Draft of the Articles of Confederation named the confederation "the United States of America." The final draft, completed on November 15, 1777, guaranteed each state's sovereignty, left the matter of western land claims in the hands of individual states, established a unicameral legislature with limited powers, and outlined a Congress with representation not based on population – each state would have one vote.
Ratification by all 13 states was necessary to set the Confederation into motion. Virginia was the first state to ratify, on December 16, 1777, and 12 states had ratified the Articles by February 1779. Maryland was the last state to ratify the Articles on March 1, 1781, when the Congress of the Confederation came into being.
The Articles were a flawed compromise, and by the mid-1780s, it became clear that the limitations on the central government, such as in assembling delegates, raising funds, and regulating commerce, limited its ability to govern effectively. The central government had insufficient power to regulate commerce, levy taxes, or set commercial policy. It also could not effectively support a war effort, and it struggled to settle disputes between states. In May 1787, the Constitutional Convention assembled in Philadelphia to revise the Articles of Confederation.
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The election of George Washington
The United States Constitution, which superseded the Articles of Confederation, came into effect on March 4, 1789. The Constitution, which was ratified in 1788, is the supreme law of the United States of America. It outlines the framework of the federal government, including the legislative, executive, and judicial branches.
George Washington was a popular figure due to his role as the Commander of the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. His leadership and strategic skills were well-known, and he was respected by his peers. Washington's ascent to the presidency was almost inevitable, especially after he agreed to come out of retirement. The election process, however, was not without political intrigue and rumours. Federalists and Anti-Federalists had differing opinions, and there were concerns about potential candidates from both sides.
On February 4, 1789, electors from 10 out of the 13 states convened to cast their votes. Washington appeared on all 69 ballots cast, making his election unanimous. John Adams received 34 votes and became the first vice president. Washington's journey to his inauguration in New York City on April 30, 1789, was a celebratory procession, with people gathering in towns and villages to greet him. His inaugural address was delivered at Federal Hall, where he took the oath of office.
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Frequently asked questions
The Constitution of the United States came into effect on March 4, 1789.
The Articles of Confederation was the nation's first constitution. It gave the Confederation Congress the power to make rules and request funds from the states, but it had no enforcement powers, couldn't regulate commerce, or print money.
The Constitution established a federal government divided into three branches: the legislative, consisting of the bicameral Congress; the executive, consisting of the president and subordinate officers; and the judicial, consisting of the Supreme Court and other federal courts.
The Constitution was ratified by 9 of the 13 states, with New Hampshire becoming the ninth state to ratify on June 21, 1788. The new government was set to begin on March 4, 1789.
The first ten amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, were ratified on December 15, 1791. These amendments offered specific protections for individual liberty and justice and restricted the powers of the government within the U.S. states.
