Jonah Patel
The United States Constitution was drafted at the Constitutional Convention, which took place in Philadelphia between May 25 and September 17, 1787. The convention was attended by 55 delegates, representing 12 of the 13 original states (Rhode Island did not send any delegates). The delegates, who included George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, and James Madison, were tasked with revising the existing government under the Articles of Confederation, which had created a weak central government with limited authority. However, the delegates ultimately decided to create a new federal government with a powerful central government, in which national laws were supreme over state laws. The Constitution was signed by 39 delegates, and it stands today as one of the longest-lived and most emulated constitutions in the world.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | Philadelphia |
| Meeting Place | Pennsylvania State House, later named Independence Hall |
| Date | May 25, 1787 - September 17, 1787 |
| Number of Delegates | 55 |
| Age of Delegates | 26-81 |
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What You'll Learn
The Constitutional Convention
The convention was initially intended to revise the Articles of Confederation, but delegates quickly began considering measures to replace them. 55 delegates from 12 of the 13 original states attended the sessions, ranging in age from 26 to 81. Notable figures included Benjamin Franklin, James Wilson, and George Mason. The delegates represented a wide range of interests and views, and their task was to create a new government that balanced centralized power with state loyalties.
The convention's proceedings began on May 25, 1787, with General George Washington elected unanimously as president. The delegates first considered a proposal from Virginia, known as the Virginia Plan, which called for a bicameral (two-house) Congress, an elected chief executive, and an appointed judiciary. This was followed by the New Jersey Plan, which retained a unicameral legislature while also calling for an elected executive.
The ratification process that followed was contentious, with Federalists and Anti-Federalists engaging in vigorous debates. The Federalists supported the Constitution, arguing for a strong central government, while the Anti-Federalists, including small farmers and landowners, advocated for stronger state governments and opposed the concentration of power at the national level. The Constitution was eventually ratified by 9 of the 13 states, marking a significant step in the formation of the United States of America.
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The Philadelphia Convention
The Articles of Confederation had established a loose confederation of states with a weak central government, and it became apparent that a stronger national government was needed to address the economic and political challenges facing the young nation. James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and George Washington were among those who believed that the Articles of Confederation gave too much power to the states and left the central government with insufficient authority to effectively regulate commerce, collect taxes, or support the war effort.
The delegates crafted a powerful central government, balancing the interests and views of the different states. The final document, the United States Constitution, was signed by 39 delegates on September 17, 1787. The Constitution established a federal government with three independent branches, including a bicameral legislature, an executive branch, and an appointed judiciary. It bypassed state legislatures during the ratification process, calling for special ratifying conventions in each state. Ratification by 9 of the 13 states enacted the new government.
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The Annapolis Convention
At the time, under the Articles of Confederation, each state was largely independent of the others, and the national government had no authority to regulate trade between and among the states. The convention was attended by twelve delegates from five U.S. states: New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Virginia. Other states, including New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and North Carolina, had appointed commissioners, but they did not arrive in time to attend the meeting.
The report was issued to all states and the Confederation Congress, and it expressed the hope that a broader range of issues could be addressed beyond just trade. The direct result of the Annapolis Convention's report and the ensuing events was the 1787 Philadelphia Convention. While the Annapolis Convention had limited authority due to the few representatives in attendance, it highlighted the urgency of the need for constitutional reform in the face of rebellions and economic strain.
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The Federalists and Anti-Federalists
The Constitution of the United States was created by 38 delegates who assembled in Philadelphia in May of 1787. General George Washington was unanimously elected president of the convention. The delegates represented wildly different interests and views, and crafted compromises to create a powerful central government.
The Federalists believed that a strong central government was necessary to face the nation's challenges. They were better organized and connected, and their beliefs could be described as nationalist. Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay wrote a series of 85 powerful newspaper essays known as The Federalist Papers. They were instrumental in shaping the new US Constitution, which strengthened the national government.
The Anti-Federalists, on the other hand, opposed the ratification of the Constitution because it created a powerful central government that reminded them of the one they had just overthrown, and it lacked a bill of rights. They 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. They published a series of articles and delivered numerous speeches against the ratification of the Constitution, known collectively as The Anti-Federalist Papers.
The Anti-Federalists failed to prevent the adoption of the Constitution, but their efforts were not entirely in vain. They forced the first Congress under the new Constitution to establish a bill of rights to ensure the liberties that they felt the Constitution violated.
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The Signing of the Constitution
In the years following the Revolutionary War, the inadequacies of the Articles of Confederation, America's first constitution, became increasingly apparent. The Articles had established a weak central government, with limited authority and little power to regulate commerce, tax, or support a war effort. This, coupled with economic depression, threatened to tear the young country apart. Recognizing these issues, nationalists led by James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and George Washington began working towards strengthening the federal government.
In September 1786, delegates from five states convened in Annapolis, Maryland, to discuss commercial problems and barriers to trade under the Articles of Confederation. Following this, a proposal was made by Madison and John Tyler in the Virginia assembly, suggesting that the Continental Congress be empowered to regulate commerce throughout the Confederation. As a result, Congress issued a formal call for a convention, and on February 21, 1787, the Confederation Congress called for a convention of state delegates in Philadelphia to propose revisions to the Articles.
The Constitutional Convention, also known as the Philadelphia Convention, assembled at Independence Hall in Philadelphia between May 25 and September 17, 1787. Freshly spread dirt covered the cobblestone street in front of the Pennsylvania State House, muffling the sound of passing carriages and carts for the delegates inside. Fifty-five delegates, ranging in age from 26 to 81, representing 12 of the 13 original states, attended the sessions. Rhode Island refused to send delegates.
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 delegates, representing diverse interests and views, crafted a powerful central government, striking compromises along the way. The Constitution's signing marked a significant achievement, resulting in a new form of government that has endured as one of the longest-lived and most emulated constitutions globally.
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Frequently asked questions
The Constitutional Convention assembled at Independence Hall in Philadelphia between May 25 and September 17, 1787.
55 delegates attended the sessions, but only 39 signed the Constitution. The delegates ranged in age from 26-year-old Jonathan Dayton to 81-year-old Benjamin Franklin.
The convention's mandate was to amend the Articles of Confederation, which had proven ineffective in meeting the young nation's needs. The delegates decided to create a new plan of government, establishing a federal government in which national laws were supreme over state laws.
The delegates drafted the United States Constitution, which was signed by 38 delegates on September 17, 1787, with a 39th signature added later. The Constitution established a powerful central government and has become one of the longest-lived and most emulated constitutions in the world.
