Malcolm Rivera
The US Constitution, which defines the framework of the Federal Government of the United States, was written in 1787, ratified in 1788, and has been in operation since 1789. It is the world's longest-surviving written charter of government. The US Constitution was preceded by the Articles of Confederation, which was America's first constitution and gave the Confederation Congress the power to make rules and request funds from the states, but it lacked enforcement powers and couldn't regulate commerce or print money. The Mayflower Compact, which established a civil relationship among the Pilgrims, has also been called the forerunner of the written constitution in America.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Mayflower Compact |
| Date | N/A |
| Purpose | Established a civil relationship among the Pilgrims |
| Relation to the U.S. Constitution | Considered the forerunner of the written U.S. Constitution |
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What You'll Learn
The Mayflower Compact
The Compact was an important document as it was considered the first real constitution of modern times. It was democratic, acknowledging liberty under law and order and giving each person the right to participate in the government while promising obedience to the laws. The Compact created a "civic body politic" that was called upon to do more than a similar body in England. It was a social contract in which the settlers consented to follow the community's rules and regulations for the sake of order and survival. The Compact also had symbolic importance and was read at government meetings in the Plimoth Colony for many years.
The influence of the Mayflower Compact has been lasting, and similar local governments can be found throughout America today. The Compact was the first document to outline the concept of self-governance in what would become the United States of America, making it a forerunner to the US Constitution. It demonstrated the power and strength of character of the Pilgrims, who abided by the agreement and lived by it. The Compact helped establish a form of government that upheld the tradition of liberty based on law and order.
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The Declaration of Independence
The adoption of the Declaration of Independence was an act of high treason against the British Crown, punishable by torture and death. The delegates who signed the document knew the risks they were taking, but they were committed to the cause of independence. The Declaration was published and distributed widely, and it has become a symbol of freedom and democracy. The original document is preserved at the National Archives in Washington, D.C., and it is considered one of the Charters of Freedom, along with the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, which together established the government's structure and secured the rights of American citizens.
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The Bill of Rights
The first ten amendments of the Bill of Rights guarantee specific personal freedoms, such as freedom of speech, the right to publish, practice religion, possess firearms, and assemble, as well as other natural and legal rights. It also includes explicit declarations that all powers not specifically granted to the federal government by the Constitution are reserved to the states or the people.
The concepts codified in these amendments are built upon those in earlier documents, including the Virginia Declaration of Rights, the Northwest Ordinance, the English Bill of Rights, and the Magna Carta. The Bill of Rights is on permanent display in the Rotunda at the National Archives Museum in Washington, D.C.
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The Articles of Confederation
The Articles were a compromise, and most delegates recognised their flaws. However, they were seen as better than having no formal national government. The Congress observed the Articles as its de facto frame of government while awaiting ratification by all states. The body was renamed the Congress of the Confederation, but many Americans continued to refer to it as the Continental Congress, as its organisation remained unchanged.
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The Federalist Papers
The high demand for the essays led to their publication in a more permanent form. On January 1, 1788, the New York publishing firm J. & A. McLean announced that they would publish the first 36 essays as a bound volume, which was released on March 22, 1788, and was titled "The Federalist Volume 1". New essays continued to be published in newspapers, and a second bound volume was eventually released on May 28, containing Federalist Nos. 37–77 and the previously unpublished Nos. 78–85.
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Frequently asked questions
The Mayflower Compact is considered the forerunner of the written US Constitution.
The Mayflower Compact was an agreement that established a civil relationship between the Pilgrims. Charters, on the other hand, emphasised the relationship between the king and the colonists.
The US Constitution was written to define the framework of the Federal Government of the United States. It set out the purpose and structure of the government.
The US Constitution is the world's longest surviving written charter of government. It has been in operation since 1789 and has secured the rights of American citizens.
