Simone Lawson
The first constitution of a republic is a significant milestone in the history of a nation, marking the establishment of a new system of governance. The proclamation of the first constitution often signifies a departure from the previous form of government and sets out the fundamental principles and laws that will govern the nation. One of the earliest examples of a republic is the First Spanish Republic, which was proclaimed on February 11, 1873, following the abdication of King Amadeo I. Another notable instance is the First Philippine Republic, also known as the Malolos Republic, which was established on January 23, 1899, with the promulgation of the Malolos Constitution. This republic was a product of the Philippine Revolution and the Spanish-American War, and it marked a significant step towards independence and self-governance for the Philippines. In the context of the United States, the Articles of Confederation, adopted in 1781, served as the first constitution, providing a framework for governance in the early years of the nation's existence.
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What You'll Learn
The Articles of Confederation was the first constitution of the United States
The Articles of Confederation established a weak central government, with limited decision-making abilities and no enforcement powers. The Confederation Congress could not raise revenue and lacked the power to directly tax the states. While the Articles provided for the annual appointment of delegates to the Congress, they did not establish a permanent national judiciary. The Articles also outlined a Congress with representation not based on population – each state had one vote.
The Articles of Confederation were in force from March 1, 1781, until 1789 when the present-day Constitution went into effect. The process of ratification by the 13 colonies took more than three years, with the final state ratifying in 1781. During this time, the Continental Congress and the Confederation Congress continued to operate under the Articles, with the latter eventually "virtually ceas [ing] trying to govern".
The shortcomings of the Articles, including the inability to compel the removal of British forces from the territory north of the Ohio River, led to proposals to amend them. In the summer of 1787, the Constitutional Convention assembled in Philadelphia to revise the Articles, ultimately resulting in the creation of a new Constitution that remains in effect today.
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The US Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787
The US Constitution, the fundamental framework of America's system of government, was signed on September 17, 1787. This date is now commemorated as Constitution Day, a federal observance established by law in 2004.
The Constitution was signed by 39 delegates at the conclusion of the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, which had convened from May 25 to September 17, 1787. The Constitutional Convention was called to revise the Articles of Confederation, which had created a weak central government with little power to enforce its authority over the states. The Articles of Confederation had been ratified in 1781, but by 1786, it was clear that amendments were needed to prevent the union from breaking up.
The delegates at the Constitutional Convention clashed over issues of state sovereignty and the distribution of power between large and small states. The final draft of the Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, despite calls for another convention to review it. James Madison, later known as the "Father of the Constitution," was among the most influential delegates at the convention. The Constitution specified that it would only come into effect once it was ratified by nine of the 13 states.
The battle for ratification was hard-won, with supporters of the Constitution, known as Federalists, facing opposition from Anti-Federalists. Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticut ratified the Constitution in quick succession, but other states, including Massachusetts, opposed it due to a lack of protection for basic political rights. A compromise was reached, and on June 21, 1788, New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify the Constitution, allowing it to officially come into effect.
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The Federalists supported the Constitution
The Federalists, supporters of the US Constitution, were those who advocated for a strong union and the adoption of the Constitution. They included big property owners in the North, conservative small farmers and businessmen, wealthy merchants, clergymen, judges, lawyers, and professionals. They were well-organised, well-funded, and made careful use of the printed word, with most newspapers supporting their political plan.
The Federalists believed that the greatest threat to the future of the United States did not lie in the abuse of central power but instead in the ineffectiveness of the central government under the Articles of Confederation. The Articles of Confederation, the predecessor of the Constitution, gave little power to the central government. While the Confederation Congress had some decision-making abilities, it lacked enforcement powers. The implementation of most decisions, including amendments to the Articles, required legislative approval by all 13 newly formed states.
> "The smaller the society the fewer probably will be the distinct parties and interests composing it; the fewer the distinct parties and interests, the more frequently will a majority be found of the same party and the more easily will they concert and execute their plans of oppression."
The Federalists also argued that the Constitution, with its institutional restraints and checks and balances, was, in effect, a Bill of Rights. They further argued that because it would be impossible to list all the rights afforded to Americans, it would be best to list none.
The Federalists successfully articulated their position in favour of the adoption of the Constitution, and ultimately prevailed in state ratification debates.
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![Republics and Democracies: [Speech] As first delivered, at the Constitution Day luncheon of 'We, The People' in Chicago, on September 17, 1961](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/715VfalP2IL._AC_UY218_.jpg)
The Anti-Federalists opposed the Constitution
The first constitution of the United States, the Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union, was drafted in mid-June 1777 and adopted by the full Congress in mid-November of the same year. Ratification by the 13 colonies was completed on March 1, 1781.
The Anti-Federalists opposed the ratification of the 1787 US Constitution, fearing that the new national government would be too powerful and threaten individual liberties. They believed that the federal government would be impersonal, unrepresentative, dominated by wealthy men, and oppressive of the poor and working classes. The Anti-Federalists included small farmers and landowners, shopkeepers, and laborers. They favored strong state governments, a weak central government, the direct election of government officials, short term limits for officeholders, accountability by officeholders to popular majorities, and the strengthening of individual liberties.
The Anti-Federalists' opposition to the Constitution was a powerful force in the origin of the Bill of Rights, which was designed to protect Americans' civil liberties. Their arguments led to the adoption of the First Amendment and the other nine amendments that constitute the Bill of Rights. The Anti-Federalists wrote essays explaining their opposition to the Constitution, collectively known as the Anti-Federalist Papers. Some of the most well-known Anti-Federalist Papers were a series of 16 essays published in the New York Journal from October 1787 to April 1788 under the pseudonym Brutus.
The Federalists, on the other hand, supported the Constitution, believing that a stronger national government would improve relationships between states and create a "more perfect union." They argued that the economic problems and internal unrest America faced in the late 1780s were due to the weakness and ineffectiveness of the federal government under the Articles of Confederation. The Federalists pointed to Congress's inability to fund any projects as an example of this ineffectiveness. They believed that the vastness of the country was an argument in favor of a republic, claiming that a large republic would counterbalance various political interest groups vying for power.
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The First Spanish Republic was short-lived
The First Spanish Republic was proclaimed on 11 February 1873, following the abdication of King Amadeus I. It was short-lived, lasting only until 29 December 1874. This period was marked by profound political and social instability and violence, with three simultaneous civil wars: the Third Carlist War, the Cantonal Revolution, and the Petroleum Revolution in Alcoy. The Republic also faced the Ten Years' War in Cuba and divisions within the army.
The First Spanish Republic was governed by four distinct presidents in just eleven months: Estanislao Figueras, Francesc Pi i Margall, Nicolás Salmerón, and Emilio Castelar. The lack of true republicans, division between federalists and unitarians, and lack of popular support further hindered the consolidation of the regime. The slow pace of constitutional debates in the Cortes also created challenges, as events on the ground moved much faster. For example, the City Council of Seville declared itself a Social Republic, and federalist deputies left the Cortes in protest.
The cantonalism expressed during this period was a significant issue, with local cantonalist risings and the establishment of independent cantons, such as the Canton of Cartagena, which minted its own currency. The actual territory in which the Republic exerted undisputed authority was limited, as cantonal uprisings took place across Spain. The rapid pace of events and the inability to pass a new Constitution further contributed to the Republic's downfall.
On 3 January 1874, a coup d'état led by General Pavía dissolved the National Assembly. The monarchy was restored on 29 December 1874, with the proclamation of Alfonso XII as king, marking the end of the First Spanish Republic. Despite its short duration, the First Spanish Republic advocated new theories that influenced the future, including federalism, socialism, and cantonalism.
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Frequently asked questions
The first constitution of the United States, the Articles of Confederation, was proclaimed on November 15, 1777, and was ratified on March 1, 1781.
The First Spanish Republic was proclaimed on February 11, 1873, after the abdication of King Amadeo I.
The French Second Republic was created in 1848 but was abolished by Napoleon III in 1852.
The United States Constitution went into effect in 1789.
The Constitutional Convention assembled in Philadelphia in May 1787.
