Isabella Carter
The United States Constitution was written and signed in 1787, on September 17. It was drafted in secret by delegates to the Constitutional Convention, also known as the Philadelphia Convention, which was convened to address the flaws of the Articles of Confederation. The Constitution was officially adopted on June 21, 1788, when New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify it.
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
The US Constitution was written in 1787
The Federal Convention, also known as the Constitutional Convention, convened in Philadelphia on May 14, 1787, to address these issues and revise the Articles of Confederation. The convention was conducted under an oath of secrecy, and the delegates debated and redrafted the articles of the new Constitution throughout the summer. The chief points of contention included the level of power granted to the central government, the number of representatives in Congress for each state, and the method of electing these representatives.
On September 17, 1787, 38 delegates signed the Constitution, with George Reed signing on behalf of the absent John Dickinson of Delaware, bringing the total number of signatures to 39. The Constitution established a powerful central government, reflecting the concerns of the delegates, who were wary of centralized power and loyal to their states. They crafted a document that stood as a model of cooperative statesmanship and the art of compromise.
However, the Constitution did not immediately go into effect after being signed. It required ratification by the states, and this process proved to be a challenging one. The Federalists, who supported a strong central government, faced opposition from the Anti-Federalists, who favoured a weaker central government and believed in state sovereignty. The battle for ratification played out in state conventions, with the Federalists eventually securing the necessary votes. On June 21, 1788, New Hampshire became the critical ninth state to ratify the Constitution, and the new government officially started operating on March 4, 1789.
The US Constitution: A Historical Writing Process
You may want to see also
It was adopted on 21 June 1788
The United States Constitution was born in September 1787, but it was not until 21 June 1788 that it was officially adopted. On that day, New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify the Constitution, and the new government officially started operating on 4 March 1789.
The Constitution was drafted in secret by delegates to the Constitutional Convention during the summer of 1787. This four-page document was signed on 17 September 1787 and established the government of the United States. The Federal Convention convened in the State House (Independence Hall) in Philadelphia on 14 May 1787 to revise the Articles of Confederation. However, due to a lack of attendance, the members adjourned until a quorum of seven states was obtained on 25 May.
Through discussion and debate, it became clear by mid-June that the convention would not simply amend the existing Articles but would instead draft an entirely new framework for governance. The delegates debated and redrafted the articles of the new Constitution throughout the summer, with the chief points of contention being how much power to allow the central government, how many representatives in Congress to permit from each state, and how these representatives should be elected.
The delegates eventually agreed to protect the slave trade and allow states to count three-fifths of their slaves as part of their populations for representation purposes. They also adopted the Connecticut Compromise, which proposed a Congress with proportional representation in the lower house and equal representation in the upper house (the Senate), giving each state two senators. These compromises helped maintain the Union and facilitated the Constitution's ratification, but slavery continued for six more decades, and smaller states continue to have disproportionate representation in the U.S.
Text Messages: Written Notice in Maryland?
You may want to see also
New Hampshire was the ninth state to ratify
The United States Constitution was drafted in 1787 and signed on September 17 of that year. However, it was not until June 21, 1788, that the document was officially adopted, when New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify it.
The road to New Hampshire's ratification was not straightforward. The state's political traditions were deeply rooted, with town governments taking priority as they were closest to the citizenry. Towns often sent instructions with their representatives on how they should vote. Historically, the guiding political principle in New Hampshire was a strong defence of popular liberties, and any measure or constitution that seemed to threaten that sense of freedom was consistently opposed. As such, opinions on the 1787 Constitution varied across the state, with those closest to the coast in the populous Portsmouth area being strongly Federalist, while those in the central and backcountry parts of the state tended to lean Anti-Federalist.
The New Hampshire convention opened in Exeter on February 13, 1788, and began a section-by-section discussion of the Constitution. However, the delegates who gathered at the state convention in February 1788 met for only a week before suddenly adjourning—a decision that shocked Federalists across the country. When the convention reassembled in mid-June, no one could predict the outcome.
The Federalists had initially pushed for an early state convention in February, fearing that the Anti-Federalists held an unbreakable majority. However, by the time the convention reconvened in June, the tide had turned in their favour. Debates in the press had taken a toll on the Anti-Federalists, reducing their numbers and draining their public support.
Ultimately, New Hampshire's vote to ratify the Constitution proved to be a critical moment in the establishment of the United States Constitution. As per Article VII of the 1787 Constitution, the ratification of nine states was required for the Constitution to come into effect. With New Hampshire's decisive vote, the Constitution was officially adopted, and the new government officially began operating on March 4, 1789.
Understanding Written Requests: Definition and Requirements
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The Federalists and Anti-Federalists debated
The United States Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, and was officially adopted on June 21, 1788, when New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify it. The road to ratification was not without its challenges, as Federalists and Anti-Federalists engaged in fierce debates over the role of the federal government and the protection of Americans' freedoms.
The Federalists, who supported the new Constitution, argued that a strong federal government was necessary to ensure the effective governance of the nation. They believed that the Articles of Confederation, which had been in place since 1777, were inadequate for addressing the issues facing the country at the time, such as war debts, piracy, and rebellion.
On the other hand, the Anti-Federalists opposed the new Constitution, arguing that it granted too much power to the federal government at the expense of state and local governments. They believed that Americans' freedoms were better protected by state governments and that a strong federal government would lead to tyranny and a loss of representation for citizens. Robert Yates, an Anti-Federalist from New York, wrote that a supreme federal government would "swallow up all the powers of the state governments."
The debate between the Federalists and Anti-Federalists played out through speeches, essays, and state conventions. The Federalists, recognising the strength of the Anti-Federalist majority, called for an adjournment of the state convention from February to June 1788. During this time, they worked to sway public opinion in their favour, ultimately succeeding in getting the Constitution ratified in nine states.
The ratification process was not without its challenges, with Anti-Federalists putting up a strong fight in states like Pennsylvania, New York, Massachusetts, and Virginia. In Pennsylvania, Anti-Federalists attempted to prevent a vote for a ratifying convention, while in New York and Virginia, they successfully blocked the new Constitution. However, these efforts were not enough to stop the Federalists from ultimately prevailing, and the Constitution was ratified and went into effect in 1789.
Why Franz Josef Refused a Written Constitution
You may want to see also
The Constitution was a new framework
The Constitution was written during the Philadelphia Convention, now known as the Constitutional Convention, which convened from May 25 to September 17, 1787. It was signed on September 17, 1787, marking its official adoption. However, it faced a long road to ratification by the states, with fierce opposition from Anti-Federalists.
The Constitution was indeed a new framework, drafted in secret by delegates to the Constitutional Convention during the summer of 1787. It was a response to the shortcomings of the Articles of Confederation, which was America's first constitution. The Articles had given 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. This led to disputes over territory, war pensions, taxation, and trade, threatening to tear the young nation apart.
The Constitutional Convention crafted a powerful central government, a significant departure from the Articles of Confederation. The delegates, representing diverse interests and views, created a framework that stood as a model of cooperative statesmanship and the art of compromise. They debated and redrafted the Constitution's articles throughout the summer, addressing key issues such as the balance of power between the central government and the states, representation in Congress, and the election of representatives.
The Constitution also addressed slavery, with delegates agreeing to protect the slave trade and the importation of slaves for 20 years. The "three-fifths compromise" allowed states to count three-fifths of their slave population for representation in the federal government, further entrenching slavery. Additionally, the Constitution included the Connecticut Compromise, which proposed a Congress with proportional representation in the lower house and equal representation in the upper house, giving each state two senators.
The process of ratification by the states was not without challenges. While some states, such as Delaware, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey, voted in favor of ratification early on, others, including Virginia, New York, and Massachusetts, expressed concerns over the lack of protections for people's rights. The Federalists promised amendments to secure individual liberties, leading to a shift in favor of ratification. On June 21, 1788, New Hampshire became the critical ninth state to ratify, officially adopting the Constitution and establishing the new government.
God and the US Constitution: A Mindful Connection?
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
The United States Constitution was written in 1787. It was drafted in secret by delegates to the Constitutional Convention during the summer of that year.
The Constitution was signed on September 1787.
The Constitution was officially adopted on June 21, 1788, when New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify it.
The new government officially started operating on March 4, 1789.
