Jonah Patel
The US Constitution was signed by 38 delegates on September 17, 1787, with an additional signature by George Reed on behalf of John Dickinson of Delaware, bringing the total to 39. This event was preceded by the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in May 1787, where delegates initially met to revise the Articles of Confederation, but ultimately decided to redesign the government. The Articles of Confederation, America's first constitution, had faced criticism for its lack of enforcement powers and inability to regulate commerce or print money. Benjamin Franklin's proposal for Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union was also met with opposition. The Constitution's ratification process faced challenges from Anti-Federalists concerned about the creation of a powerful central government, but was eventually achieved through compromises and amendments.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of adoption of the US Constitution | September 17, 1787 |
| Number of delegates who signed the Constitution | 38 out of 41 |
| First state to ratify the Constitution | Delaware on December 7, 1787 |
| Date the Constitution became the official framework of the US government | June 21, 1788 |
| Date the Constitution was ratified by all states | May 29, 1790 |
| Date the Bill of Rights was ratified | December 15, 1791 |
| Date the Articles of Confederation were adopted | November 15, 1777 |
| Date the Articles of Confederation were ratified | March 1, 1781 |
| First state to ratify the Articles of Confederation | Virginia on December 16, 1777 |
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What You'll Learn
The Articles of Confederation
However, the Articles of Confederation soon proved to be flawed. The central government's power was quite limited, and it was unable to prevent states from pursuing their own independent policies. For example, the national government could not prevent the state of Georgia from pursuing an independent policy regarding Spanish Florida, threatening war if Spanish officials did not curb Indian attacks or refrain from harbouring escaped slaves. The Articles also did not allow Congress sufficient authority to enforce provisions of the 1783 Treaty of Paris, which allowed British creditors to sue debtors for pre-Revolutionary debts. This resulted in British forces continuing to occupy forts in the Great Lakes region.
The weaknesses of the central government became even more apparent after Shays's Rebellion, and several prominent political thinkers began calling for changes to the Articles to strengthen the powers of the central government. The large debts incurred by the states and the Confederation Congress during the Revolutionary War also highlighted the need for a stronger central government. As a result, in 1786, some states met to address interstate protectionist trade barriers, and a convention was set for May 25, 1787, in Philadelphia to revise the Articles. This became known as the Constitutional Convention, and it ultimately led to the creation of a completely new form of government and the proposal and adoption of the US Constitution in 1787.
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Shays' Rebellion
The rebellion was a violent insurrection, with protesters clashing with the local militia. In January 1787, Shays led around 1,200 men in an attack on the federal arsenal in Springfield, which was repelled. The rebels were pursued by the militia and decisively defeated at Petersham in February 1787. Following this defeat, Shays fled to Vermont, and the rebellion came to an end.
The rebellion had significant political consequences. It highlighted the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation, the existing framework of government, and the need for a stronger central government. It contributed to the return of George Washington to political life and the creation of a new Constitution. Washington was elected president of the Philadelphia Convention of 1787, which produced the United States Constitution. The rebellion also led to the enactment of laws by the Massachusetts legislature to ease the economic conditions of debtors.
The role of Shays' Rebellion in shaping the United States Constitution is a subject of debate among historians. While most scholars agree that it played some role, there are differing opinions on the extent of its influence. The rebellion temporarily drew some Anti-Federalists to the side of a strong central government. Additionally, it prompted calls for reform and led to the proposal and creation of a new form of government, as evident in the Philadelphia Convention of 1787.
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The Constitutional Convention
The Articles of Confederation gave the Confederation Congress the power to make rules and request funds from the states, but it lacked enforcement powers, the ability to regulate commerce, or print money. This led to disputes over territory, war pensions, taxation, and trade, threatening to tear the young country apart.
Alexander Hamilton of New York, along with James Madison of Virginia and George Washington, played a significant role in calling for a constitutional convention to reevaluate the nation's governing document. They believed that a strong central government was necessary to address the nation's challenges. The convention was attended by delegates from 12 states, with Rhode Island being the only state that refused to send delegates.
The delegates to the convention created a model of government that divided federal authority among the legislative, judicial, and executive branches. They debated issues such as the role of the executive, including the division of power, the election process, term limits, impeachable offenses, and the selection of judges. Slavery was also a highly contentious issue, with delegates debating the inclusion of a fugitive slave clause, the potential abolition of the slave trade, and the representation of enslaved individuals for taxation and representation purposes.
The convention ultimately resulted in the proposal and creation of a new form of government, with 38 out of 41 delegates signing the new U.S. Constitution on September 17, 1787. The Constitution established a federal government with more specific powers, including the authority to conduct foreign relations. It was agreed that the document would come into effect once ratified by nine of the 13 existing states. The process of ratification was a challenging one, with Federalists and Anti-Federalists engaged in a heated debate. The first state to ratify was Delaware on December 7, 1787, and the Constitution became the official framework of the U.S. government on June 21, 1788, when New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify it. The Constitution was not ratified by all states until May 29, 1790, and the Bill of Rights, consisting of ten amendments, was ratified on December 15, 1791.
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Delaware's ratification
Delaware played a crucial role in the ratification of the US Constitution, becoming the first state to ratify the document on December 7, 1787. This day is now celebrated as Delaware Day, honouring the state's unanimous decision to approve the Constitution, which replaced the Articles of Confederation.
The road to Delaware's ratification began with the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in 1787. Delegates from 12 states gathered to address the shortcomings of the Articles of Confederation, which had been the country's first constitution. The Articles had granted significant power to individual states, weakening the national government and leading to disputes over territory, war pensions, taxation, and trade. Recognizing the need for a stronger central government, the delegates drafted a new Constitution.
The Delaware Ratifying Convention, which met on December 3, 1787, played a crucial role in the state's decision to ratify. While the reports of the convention have been lost, it is known that Delaware's citizens desired a stronger national government than what the Articles provided. Additionally, Delaware also recommended the cession of land for the new federal capital within its boundaries, although this offer was not accepted.
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The Federalist Papers
The essays were published in several New York state newspapers, including The Independent Journal, The New York Packet, and The Daily Advertiser. They were also reprinted in newspapers outside of New York, although they were overshadowed by local writers in other parts of the country. The high demand for the essays led to their publication in book form, with the first volume released in March 1788 and the second volume in May 1788.
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Frequently asked questions
The Articles of Confederation was America's first constitution.
The Articles of Confederation gave the Confederation Congress the power to make rules and request funds from the states, but it had no enforcement powers, couldn’t regulate commerce, or print money.
The ineffectual response of the Confederation government to Shays’ Rebellion in Massachusetts, and the need for a stronger, more centralized government, led to the formulation of the current US Constitution.
The US Constitution was signed by 38 delegates on September 17, 1787. Delaware was the first state to ratify the Constitution on December 7, 1787.
The new constitution created a powerful central government, and the first ten amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, provided protection for rights such as freedom of speech, religion, and the press.
