Omar Bennett
The American Constitution was written in the summer of 1787 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by 55 delegates to a Constitutional Convention. The first draft of the Constitution was accepted on August 6, 1787. In June 1788, after the Constitution had been ratified by nine states, Congress set March 4, 1789, as the date for the new government to commence proceedings. The Constitution was the product of political compromise after long and often rancorous debates over issues such as states' rights, representation, and slavery.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | Monday, August 6, 1787 |
| Location | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| Number of delegates | 55 |
| Convention leader | General George Washington |
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What You'll Learn
The Constitution was written in 1787
The American Constitution was written in 1787, during the summer, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 55 delegates contributed to the writing of the Constitution, which was the product of political compromise after long and often heated debates over issues such as states' rights, representation, and slavery.
The delegates to the Constitutional Convention were tasked with amending the Articles of Confederation, which were the country's first written constitution. The Articles of Confederation had been in place from 1781-89. The delegates disagreed over whether the number of representatives in the new federal legislature should be the same for each state, or different depending on a state's population. Delegates from Northern states also sought to abolish slavery, or, failing that, to make representation dependent on the size of a state's free population.
The first draft of the Constitution was accepted on August 6, 1787. In the following days, Alexander Hamilton assessed the chances of the Constitution being ratified. In its favour were the support of Washington, commercial interests, men of property, and creditors. However, there was also opposition from influential men in the convention and state politicians fearful of losing power, as well as a general revulsion against taxation.
In 1787-88, Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison published a series of essays on the Constitution and republican government in New York newspapers. Their work, written under the pseudonym "Publius", became a classic exposition and defence of the Constitution.
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The first draft was accepted on August 6, 1787
The American Constitution was written during the summer of 1787 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was drafted by 55 delegates to a Constitutional Convention, which was called ostensibly to amend the Articles of Confederation (1781-89), the country's first written constitution. The delegates to the convention, including George Washington, met on May 25, 1787, and the first draft of the Constitution was accepted on August 6, 1787.
The Constitution was the product of political compromise after long and often rancorous debates over issues such as states' rights, representation, and slavery. Delegates from small and large states disagreed over whether the number of representatives in the new federal legislature should be the same for each state or different depending on a state's population. In addition, some delegates from Northern states sought to abolish slavery or, failing that, to make representation dependent on the size of a state's free population.
Two factions soon emerged: the Federalists, who supported the Constitution, and the Anti-Federalists, who opposed it. Over the ensuing months, the proposal was debated, criticized, and expounded upon clause by clause. In the state of New York, three delegates from the Philadelphia Convention who were also members of Congress—Hamilton, Madison, and Jay—published a series of commentaries, now known as The Federalist Papers, in support of ratification.
In 1788, after the Constitution had been ratified by nine states (as required by Article VII), Congress set March 4, 1789, as the date for the new government to commence proceedings. The Constitution remains a crucial part of American history and serves as a symbol of the values and principles that shape the nation today. It provides the framework for the organization of the government and the rights of its citizens, outlining the separation of powers between the three branches of government, defining the rights and freedoms of the American people, and setting the parameters for the relationship between the states and the federal government.
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The Federalists supported the Constitution
The American Constitution was written in the summer of 1787 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by 55 delegates to a Constitutional Convention. The Constitution was published on August 6, 1787, and was ratified by nine states in June 1788.
The Federalists were opposed by the Anti-Federalists, who fought against the creation of a stronger national government and sought less drastic changes to the Articles of Confederation. The Anti-Federalists wrote many essays, but the Federalists ultimately prevailed in state ratification debates. The Federalists argued that the Constitution already contained protections for individual liberties in Article I, Sections 9 and 10, which limited Congress and the states. They also argued that the entire Constitution, with its institutional restraints and checks and balances, was, in effect, a Bill of Rights.
The Federalists included many of the most talented leaders of the era, such as Benjamin Franklin and George Washington, and influential figures like Alexander Hamilton, who wrote many of the essays in The Federalist, published in 1788. These articles advocated the ratification of the Constitution.
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The Anti-Federalists opposed the Constitution
The American Constitution was written during the summer of 1787 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by 55 delegates to a Constitutional Convention. Two factions soon emerged, one supporting the Constitution, the Federalists, and the other opposing it, the so-called Anti-Federalists.
The Anti-Federalists were composed of diverse elements, including those who thought that a stronger government threatened the sovereignty and prestige of the states, localities, or individuals. They believed that the Constitution, as written, would be oppressive and that it needed a Bill of Rights. They also believed that the Constitution created a presidency so powerful that it would become a monarchy. The Anti-Federalists were worried that the position of president, then a novelty, might evolve into a monarchy. They also believed that the Constitution provided insufficient rights in the courts, such as no guarantee of juries in civil cases or local criminal case juries.
Anti-Federalists also believed that a large central government would not serve the interests of small towns and rural areas, as opposed to the urban interests that most Federalist delegates aligned with. Generally, Anti-Federalists were more likely to be small farmers than lawyers and merchants and came from rural areas rather than the urban areas many Federalists represented. They believed that the central government under the Articles of Confederation was sufficient, while the national government under the Constitution would be too strong.
Anti-Federalists also objected to the federal court system created by the proposed constitution. Minority groups also contributed, such as Mercy Otis Warren, who disguised herself as "A Colombian Patriot," thought to be Elbridge Gerry. Warren's most notable pamphlet discussed the treatment of minorities and American natural rights. This pamphlet was titled "History of the Rise, Progress, and Termination of the American Revolution". In the state of New York, a hotbed of anti-Federalism, three delegates from the Philadelphia Convention who were also members of Congress—Hamilton, Madison, and Jay—published a series of commentaries, now known as The Federalist Papers, in support of ratification.
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The Constitution was ratified in 1788
The United States Constitution was ratified on June 21, 1788, when New Hampshire became the ninth state to approve the document. The Constitution was the product of long and contentious debates over issues such as states' rights, representation, and slavery.
The process of drafting the Constitution began in the summer of 1787 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 55 delegates from 12 states were tasked with amending the Articles of Confederation, which had served as the country's first written constitution. The delegates engaged in heated discussions, clashing over issues such as the number of representatives each state should have in the new federal legislature and the abolition of slavery.
As the members of the convention returned home, the potential advantages and disadvantages of the Constitution were weighed. In its favour were the support of Washington, commercial interests, men of property, and creditors. Additionally, many Americans believed that the Articles of Confederation were inadequate and required replacement. However, opposition came from influential figures within the convention and state politicians fearful of losing power. There was also a general revulsion against taxation and a suspicion that a centralised government would be insensitive to local interests.
The ratification process was not without its challenges. The first state to ratify the Constitution was Delaware on December 7, 1787, followed by Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticut. However, some states, including New York, voiced opposition due to the lack of protection for rights such as freedom of speech, religion, and the press. Despite these concerns, the Constitution gradually gained approval, and by June 1788, nine states had ratified it, fulfilling the requirement outlined in Article VII.
The ratification of the Constitution marked a significant step in the evolution of the United States government, setting the framework for the nation's governance and paving the way for the first federal elections and the official implementation of the Constitution.
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Frequently asked questions
The first draft of the American Constitution was accepted on Monday, August 6, 1787.
The American Constitution was ratified in June 1788 by nine states.
After the Constitution was ratified, Congress set March 4, 1789, as the date for the new government to begin proceedings.
Madison promised that a bill of rights would be added after ratification, and the Constitution was approved in Virginia by a narrow margin.
The Anti-Federalist movement opposed the Constitution. They published essays criticising the power of the central government, the absence of a bill of rights, and the usurpation of state sovereignty.
