Malcolm Rivera
The first constitution of a country is a significant milestone in its history. The United States' first constitution, the Articles of Confederation, was created in 1777 but ratified in 1781. It was replaced by the US Constitution in 1789. The US Constitution was drafted by 38 delegates, including George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, and James Madison, who is often called the Father of the Constitution. The Constitution of Medina, dating back to 622, is another early example. The ancient Athenians had a constitution as early as 594 BC, and Aristotle made a formal distinction between ordinary law and constitutional law around 350 BC.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| First constitution | Articles of Confederation |
| Date of adoption | November 15, 1777 |
| Date of ratification | March 1, 1781 |
| Date of replacement | March 4, 1789 |
| Drafting location | Independence Hall, Philadelphia |
| Drafting dates | May 25, 1787 – September 17, 1787 |
| Number of delegates | 38 |
| Number of signatures | 39 |
| Notable delegates | James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, George Washington, John Dickinson, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, John Jay, James Wilson, Robert Morris |
| First President under the new constitution | George Washington |
| First Congress location | Federal Hall, New York City |
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What You'll Learn
The US Constitution
The drafting of the US Constitution, often referred to as its framing, was completed at the Constitutional Convention, which assembled at Independence Hall in Philadelphia between May 25 and September 17, 1787. Delegates to the convention were chosen by the state legislatures of 12 of the 13 original states; Rhode Island refused to send delegates. The convention's initial mandate was limited to amending the Articles of Confederation, which had proven ineffective in meeting the country's needs. However, the delegates began considering measures to replace the Articles.
The first proposal discussed, introduced by delegates from Virginia, called for a bicameral (two-house) Congress that would be elected on a proportional basis based on state population, an elected chief executive, and an appointed judicial branch. An alternative to the Virginia Plan, known as the New Jersey Plan, retained the legislative structure created by the Articles of Confederation but also called for an elected executive.
On September 17, 1787, 38 delegates signed the Constitution, with George Reed signing for John Dickinson of Delaware, bringing the total number of signatures to 39. The founders set the terms for ratifying the Constitution, bypassing the state legislatures and calling for special ratifying conventions in each state. Ratification by 9 of the 13 states was required to enact the new government. On June 21, 1788, New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify, and the Confederation Congress established March 4, 1789, as the date to begin operating under the new government.
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The Philadelphia Convention
The Articles of Confederation, crafted during the American Revolution and ratified by the states in 1781, created a weak central government that largely preserved state power and independence. It gave the Confederation Congress the power to make rules and request funds from the states, but it lacked enforcement powers, could not regulate commerce, and could not print money. The delegates at the Philadelphia Convention recognized these shortcomings and proposed a new Constitution that established three branches of government with distinct powers, allowing for a more balanced and effective governance structure.
The convention was initially intended to revise the Articles of Confederation and devise the first system of federal government. However, leading proponents of the convention, including James Madison of Virginia and Alexander Hamilton of New York, sought to create a new frame of government rather than revise the existing one. The delegates elected George Washington of Virginia, a proponent of a stronger national government, to serve as president of the convention.
The debates at the Philadelphia Convention over representation and civil rights significantly shaped American political dynamics and established patterns of negotiation and conflict that would continue to define American politics. The delegates also discussed how to count enslaved individuals for representation, leading to compromises like the Three-Fifths Compromise, which had lasting implications for political power and civil rights in America.
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The Articles of Confederation
Under the Articles, the national Congress was empowered to make war and peace, negotiate diplomatic and commercial agreements with foreign countries, and resolve disputes between the states. However, it lacked enforcement powers, could not regulate commerce, and could not print money. The states' disputes over territory, war pensions, taxation, and trade threatened to tear the young country apart.
Recognizing the flaws of the Articles of Confederation, delegates assembled at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia between May 25 and September 17, 1787, to revise the document. The convention's initial mandate was limited to amending the Articles, but delegates soon began considering measures to replace them entirely. The resulting Constitution of the United States superseded the Articles of Confederation on March 4, 1789, establishing a more powerful central government and delineating the frame of the federal government.
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The Bill of Rights
The United States Constitution is America's supreme law and superseded the Articles of Confederation, the nation's first constitution, on March 4, 1789. The drafting of the Constitution, often referred to as its framing, was completed at the Constitutional Convention, which assembled at Independence Hall in Philadelphia between May 25 and September 17, 1787. The Constitution was the result of months of thoughtful deliberation, debate, and compromise among the delegates.
The First Amendment prohibits Congress from obstructing the exercise of certain individual freedoms: freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of assembly, and the right to petition. The Fourth Amendment safeguards citizens' right to be free from unreasonable government intrusion into their homes through the requirement of a warrant. The Fifth Amendment provides several protections for people accused of crimes, including the right to a grand jury, protection against double jeopardy, and the right to just compensation. The Second Amendment states that "a well-regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed." The Third Amendment prevents the government from forcing homeowners to allow soldiers to use their homes. The Ninth Amendment states that "the enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people." The Tenth Amendment states that "the powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people."
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The Founding Fathers
The first constitution of the United States, the Articles of Confederation, was crafted during the American Revolution and created a weak central government. It 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 states' disputes over territory, war pensions, taxation, and trade threatened to tear the young country apart. James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and George Washington, among others, feared their young country was on the brink of collapse.
Hamilton helped convince Congress to organize a Grand Convention of state delegates to work on revising the Articles of Confederation. The Constitutional Convention assembled in Philadelphia in May 1787, and 38 delegates signed the Constitution on September 17, 1787, creating a powerful central government. George Reed signed for John Dickinson of Delaware, bringing the total number of signatures to 39.
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Frequently asked questions
The first constitution of the United States of America, the Articles of Confederation, was created in 1777 and ratified in 1781.
James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and George Washington were key figures in the creation of the first constitution.
The Articles of Confederation created a "league of friendship" between the states, preserving state power and independence.
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 Articles of Confederation were superseded by the Constitution of the United States on March 4, 1789.
