The Us Constitution: Ratification And Completion

The United States Constitution, the oldest and longest-standing written and codified national constitution, was signed on September 17, 1787, and submitted to the Congress of the Confederation within three days. The signing occurred at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, presided over by George Washington, and marked by vigorous debate and compromise. The convention was initially called to amend the Articles of Confederation, which governed the country at the time, but ultimately resulted in the proposal and creation of a new form of government. The Constitution was then submitted to the 13 states for ratification, with Delaware becoming the first state to ratify it on December 7, 1787.

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The first state to ratify the US Constitution was Delaware on December 7, 1787

The US Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, by 38 or 39 of the 41 delegates present at the Constitutional Convention. The Constitutional Convention was convened to amend the Articles of Confederation, which had been the first constitution of the US. However, the convention ultimately proposed and created a new form of government.

Under Article VII of the proposed Constitution, the document would only become binding once it was ratified by nine of the 13 states. The first state to ratify the Constitution was Delaware on December 7, 1787. The ratification was unanimous, with a vote of 30-0.

Delaware was followed by Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticut. On June 21, 1788, New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify the Constitution. The remaining four states—Rhode Island, North Carolina, New York, and Vermont—ratified the Constitution by May 29, 1790.

The US Constitution is the oldest and longest-standing written and codified national constitution in force in the world. The convention method of ratification has only been used once, for the Twenty-first Amendment.

Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticut followed Delaware

The US Constitution was completed for ratification on September 17, 1787. However, it was not ratified by all states until May 29, 1790, when Rhode Island approved the document. The first state to ratify the Constitution was Delaware on December 7, 1787, and this was followed by Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticut.

Pennsylvania ratified the Constitution on December 12, 1787, becoming the second state to do so. The state had earlier hosted the Constitutional Convention, with representatives from all 13 states convening in Philadelphia on May 25, 1787. The convention was initially meant to amend the Articles of Confederation, but ultimately resulted in the proposal of a new form of government.

New Jersey was the third state to ratify the Constitution, doing so on December 18, 1787. The state had adopted its first constitution on July 2, 1776, during the American Revolutionary War. This constitution aimed to provide a basic governmental framework to prevent New Jersey from falling into anarchy.

Georgia became the fourth state to ratify the Constitution on January 2, 1788. The state's first constitutional convention was held soon after it accepted the Declaration of Independence, and its constitution was completed in February 1777. This document remained in effect for 12 years and included basic rights such as freedom of religion and freedom of the press.

Connecticut was the fifth state to ratify the Constitution, doing so on January 9, 1788. The state has had several constitutions throughout its history, with the current one being adopted in 1947.

The Anti-Federalists opposed the ratification, fearing it gave too much power to the federal government

The US Constitution was completed for ratification in 1787. On September 17, 39 delegates endorsed the constitution, which was then submitted to the Congress of the Confederation in New York City, the nation's temporary capital, within three days.

The Anti-Federalists opposed the ratification, arguing that the Constitution gave too much power to the federal government, which would come at the expense of state and local governments. They believed that the federal government would be too far removed to represent the average citizen and that the nation was too large for the national government to respond to the concerns of people on a state and local basis. The Anti-Federalists also believed that the unitary president resembled a monarch, and that this resemblance would eventually produce courts of intrigue in the nation's capital. They felt that the liberties of the people were best protected when power resided in state governments, as opposed to a federal one.

Federalists, on the other hand, believed that a stronger national government was necessary after the failed Articles of Confederation. They argued that the national government only had the powers specifically granted to it under the Constitution and was prohibited from certain actions. They also believed that by dividing the government into three equal branches, with checks and balances, no one branch or person could become too powerful. Federalists also argued that the federal courts had limited jurisdiction, leaving many areas of the law to the state and local courts. They felt that the new federal courts were necessary to provide checks and balances on the power of the other two branches of government and to protect citizens from government abuse.

To address Anti-Federalist concerns, James Madison drafted a list of rights that the new federal government could not encroach, which became the Bill of Rights. The Bill of Rights is a list of 10 constitutional amendments that secure the basic rights and privileges of American citizens, including the right to free speech, the right to a speedy trial, the right to due process under the law, and protections against cruel and unusual punishments. The Bill of Rights also reserves any power that is not given to the federal government to the states and to the people.

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The Federalists supported the ratification, arguing it provided a framework for a strong central government

The US Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, and ratified in 1788. Delaware was the first state to ratify the Constitution on December 7, 1787, followed by eight other states, including Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticut. The ratification process was completed on May 29, 1790, when Rhode Island approved the document, with the Bill of Rights being ratified the following year.

The Federalists supported the ratification of the Constitution, arguing that it provided a framework for a strong central government. They believed that a strong national government was necessary to address the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation, which had limited enforcement powers and lacked the ability to make decisions effectively. Alexander Hamilton, a key figure in advocating for a constitutional convention, along with other Federalists, recognized the need for a stronger central government to promote economic growth and maintain stability. They proposed a national bank, heavy government subsidies, and fiscal policies that would shape the Federalist Party's platform.

The Federalist Party, which emerged between 1789 and 1790, was a coalition of bankers and businessmen who supported Hamilton's fiscal policies and shared his vision of a centralized government. They believed that the greatest threat to the nation was not the abuse of central power, but the excesses of democracy, as seen in popular disturbances and pro-debtor policies. Federalists argued that the Constitution provided a system of checks and balances, with the separation of powers into three branches: the legislative, executive, and judicial. This, they believed, would prevent government abuse and guarantee citizens' liberties.

To address concerns about the lack of protection for certain rights, Federalists promised to add a Bill of Rights as amendments to the Constitution. This strategy helped secure the acceptance and ratification of the Constitution by the states. The Federalists were well-organized, well-funded, and effectively utilized the printed word to spread their message. They faced opposition from Anti-Federalists, who argued that the Constitution gave too much power to the federal government at the expense of state and local governments. The Anti-Federalists' critiques influenced the creation of the Bill of Rights, which was added in 1791.

The US Constitution was not ratified by all states until May 29, 1790, when Rhode Island approved it

The US Constitution was not ratified by all 13 states until May 29, 1790, when Rhode Island finally approved the document. The road to achieving this unanimous ratification was long and fraught with intense national debate between two factions: the Federalists, who supported the Constitution, and the Anti-Federalists, who opposed it.

The First Continental Congress, meeting in Philadelphia on May 25, 1787, initially intended to amend the Articles of Confederation, which governed the newly formed nation of independent states. However, the convention, presided over by George Washington, resulted in a proposal for a completely new form of government. The new Constitution was drafted to address key issues, including the structure of the legislative branch, the balance of power between large and small states, and the contentious issue of slavery.

The Federalists, led by influential figures such as Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay, argued that the Constitution provided a necessary framework for a strong, effective central government capable of unifying the nation, protecting against foreign threats, and managing domestic affairs. They believed in the checks and balances built into the Constitution, which would prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful.

On the other hand, the Anti-Federalists, including Patrick Henry, George Mason, and Samuel Adams, feared that the Constitution concentrated too much power in the federal government at the expense of states' rights. They criticised the absence of a Bill of Rights, arguing that the Constitution did not adequately protect individual liberties. This debate played out across the country in newspapers, pamphlets, and public meetings, with each state holding a special convention to debate and vote on ratification.

Despite the opposition, the Constitution gained momentum, with Delaware becoming the first state to ratify on December 7, 1787, followed by Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticut. By January 9, 1788, five states had approved the Constitution. The ninth state, New Hampshire, ratified on June 21, 1788, ensuring that the Constitution would go into effect. However, it took until May 29, 1790, for all 13 states to ratify, with Rhode Island being the final state to approve.

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