Eleanor Finch
The first formal constitution, the United States Constitution, was formed in Philadelphia in 1787. The Constitutional Convention, which assembled in May of that year, was tasked with revising the Articles of Confederation, which had been the first constitution of the United States. However, the delegates decided to completely redesign the government, and the final document introduced a new form of government. The United States Constitution has served as a benchmark for republicanism and codified constitutions written thereafter.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | May 1787 |
| Location | Philadelphia |
| Attendees | Delegates from 12 states |
| Outcome | A new form of government |
| Amendments | None |
| Ratification | Unanimous |
| Date of Ratification | 21 June 1788 |
| Basis | Articles of Confederation |
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What You'll Learn
The US Constitution
The document was inscribed by Jacob Shallus on parchment and is now on display in the National Archives. In 1952, the Constitution was ceremoniously relocated to the National Archives, where it remains protected and revered as a foundational document of American democracy. The Constitution's creation was a pivotal moment in American history, solidifying the union of diverse states and setting a precedent for future governance.
The Constitution's First Phrase: A Nation's Founding Principles
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The Articles of Confederation
The Articles were drafted by Benjamin Franklin, who introduced his plan to Congress on July 21, 1776, stating that it should be viewed as a draft for when Congress was interested in reaching a more formal proposal. The plan was for a firm league among the 13 free and independent states, constituting an international agreement to set up central institutions. Franklin's proposal was supported by Thomas Jefferson, but many others were strongly opposed.
The final draft of the Articles was achieved by including language guaranteeing that each state retained its sovereignty, leaving the matter of western land claims in the hands of individual states, and establishing a unicameral legislature with limited and clearly delineated powers. The delegates realized that the Articles were a flawed compromise, but they believed that some form of formal national government was better than none.
The Constitution's Core: Understanding the Fundamental Principles
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The Constitutional Convention
The United States Constitution, ratified on 21 June 1788, is considered the world's second-oldest formal constitution. It was influenced by the writings of Polybius, Locke, Montesquieu, and others. The document became a benchmark for republicanism and codified constitutions that followed.
General George Washington was unanimously elected president of the convention. The delegates debated fiercely over congressional representation, specifically whether it should be based on population or divided equally among the states. They compromised by giving each state one representative for every 30,000 people in the House of Representatives and two representatives in the Senate. They also agreed to count enslaved Africans as three-fifths of a person. Another contentious issue was slavery, which was temporarily resolved when the delegates agreed that the slave trade could continue until 1808.
After three months of intense debate, the delegates appointed a Committee of Detail to put their decisions in writing. Near the convention's end, a Committee of Style and Arrangement condensed the 23 articles into seven in less than four days. 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 to 39 signatures. The delegates shared a farewell dinner at City Tavern, while two blocks away, printers John Dunlap and David Claypoole worked through the night on the final imprint of the six-page Constitution.
The First Draft of the US Constitution: What Was Included?
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Ratification of the Constitution
The United States Constitution, formed in Philadelphia in 1787, is one of the longest-lived and most emulated constitutions in the world. The Constitutional Convention assembled in Philadelphia in May 1787, with delegates from various states gathering to revise the Articles of Confederation. However, by mid-June, the delegates had decided to completely redesign the government, creating a powerful central government.
The ratification process for the Constitution was a challenging and contentious campaign. The Federalists, who supported the Constitution, faced opposition from the Anti-Federalists, who were against it due to their concerns about centralised power and the lack of a bill of rights. The Federalists needed to secure at least three states for ratification. The first state to ratify the Constitution was Delaware on December 7, 1787, followed by Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticut.
The ratification process was not without challenges, with passionate debates and even riots occurring in Pennsylvania. Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay played a crucial role in lobbying for votes in favour of ratification. They produced "The Federalist Papers," a series of 85 essays published in newspapers nationwide, explaining and defending the proposed new government. The "vote now, amend later" compromise in Massachusetts helped secure victory and shift the tide in favour of ratification.
The Constitution officially became the framework of the US government on June 21, 1788, when New Hampshire became the ninth of 13 states to ratify it. The delegates to the Constitutional Convention had set the terms for ratification, bypassing state legislatures and calling for special ratifying conventions in each state. Ratification by nine of the thirteen states was required to enact the new government. The journey to ratification was a long and arduous process, but it laid the foundation for the United States of America as we know it today.
The Birthplace of Democracy: Where Constitutions Began
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The world's oldest constitutions
The Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth Constitution, passed on 3 May 1791, is considered the world's second-oldest constitution and the oldest in Europe. It was only in effect for one year due to the Russo-Polish War of 1792. The French Constitution of 1791 and the 1811 Constitution of Venezuela, the first of its kind in Latin America, are also notable early examples.
The United Kingdom's Magna Carta, dating back to 1215, is the oldest existing constitution if one counts this foundational document of constitutional law. Canada's constitution, written in 1867, is also one of the world's oldest, along with Japan's, which has the distinction of being the oldest unamended constitution in the world.
The First Constitution of the Colonies: A Historical Overview
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Frequently asked questions
The first written constitution, adopted by a modern state, was England's "Instrument of Government", formed in 1653. It was the basis of government for the short-lived republic from 1653 to 1657.
The first constitution of the United States was the "Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union", drafted in mid-June 1777 and adopted by the full Congress in mid-November of the same year.
The US Constitution was drafted in Philadelphia, in the Pennsylvania State House, in 1787.
