Eleanor Finch
The first Constitutional Congress met in Philadelphia in May 1787, with delegates from 12 of the 13 colonies in attendance. The meeting was convened to revise the Articles of Confederation, which was America's first constitution. The Articles of Confederation had given the Confederation Congress the power to make rules and request funds from the states, but it lacked enforcement powers, the ability to regulate commerce, and the authority to print money. The delegates to the Constitutional Convention created a model of government that divided federal authority between the Legislative, Judicial, and Executive branches.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Reason for meeting | To discuss America's future under growing British aggression |
| Date | September 5 to October 26, 1774 |
| Location | Carpenters' Hall, Philadelphia |
| Delegates | Samuel Adams, John Adams, John Hancock, John Jay, Alexander Hamilton, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, James Madison, Patrick Henry, George Washington, and others |
| Agenda | To discuss and respond to the Coercive Acts/Intolerable Acts passed by the British Parliament, which included new taxes and reasserted dominance over the American colonies |
| Outcome | The First Continental Congress called for a boycott of British goods, endorsed the Suffolk Resolves, and planned for a Second Continental Congress to meet the following spring |
| Subsequent events | The Second Continental Congress convened in May 1775, and in 1776, it declared America's independence from Britain |
Explore related products
$9.99 $9.99
What You'll Learn
Concerns about the Articles of Confederation
The first Constitutional Congress met in 1787 to revise the Articles of Confederation, which was America's first constitution. Several concerns were raised about the Articles of Confederation, which gave the Confederation Congress the power to make rules and request funds from the states, but lacked enforcement powers, the ability to regulate commerce, and the authority to print money.
One of the primary concerns was the inability of the federal government to effectively conduct foreign policy. The Confederation Congress lacked the power to pass or enforce laws that individual states found counter to their interests. For example, the 1783 Treaty of Paris, which ended the American War of Independence, included provisions that were unpopular and blocked by many states, such as honouring debts owed to British subjects and allowing former British loyalists to bring suits in U.S. courts. This lack of centralised authority led to challenges in regulating trade and conducting foreign relations, with states imposing their own import duties and the British flooding U.S. markets with their goods.
The Articles of Confederation also failed to address the issue of congressional representation. It established the United States as a collection of 13 sovereign states, each with an equal voice in Congress, regardless of population size. This led to disputes over territory, war pensions, taxation, and trade, threatening to tear the young country apart.
Another concern was the lack of a centralised mechanism to collect taxes to fund the war efforts. Congress relied on contributions from the states, which often directed revenue towards their needs, resulting in the issued paper money being regarded as worthless. The inability to raise revenue persisted even after the creation of the Articles of Confederation.
Additionally, the Articles of Confederation lacked a bill of rights, which was a concern for the Anti-Federalists who opposed the creation of a powerful central government. They preferred a system with a clear division of federal authority between the Legislative, Judicial, and Executive branches of government.
First Aid Definition: Understanding Workers' Comp Coverage
You may want to see also
State delegates and their differing views
The delegates to the Constitutional Convention held a variety of differing views. The Federalists, for instance, believed that a strong central government was necessary to address the country's challenges. On the other hand, the Anti-Federalists opposed the Constitution because it created a powerful central government that reminded them of the one they had overthrown, and because it lacked a bill of rights.
Another point of contention was congressional representation. Some argued that it should be based on population, while others believed it should be divided equally among the states. A compromise was reached, with each state receiving one representative for every 30,000 people in the House of Representatives and two representatives in the Senate.
Slavery was also a divisive issue. Some delegates wanted to empower Congress to end the slave trade, while others wanted to maintain the status quo. A temporary resolution was found, with the delegates agreeing to continue the slave trade until 1808.
The delegates also disagreed on the role of the national government. While some, like Rutledge, wanted a stronger national government than the Confederation, he and others did not want its power over the states to be unlimited. This view led to changes in the Constitution that enhanced the power of the states at the expense of the national government.
Additionally, there were differing opinions on how to respond to the British government's coercive actions, such as the Intolerable Acts. Some, like Patrick Henry, believed that the Congress needed to develop a completely new system of government, independent from Great Britain. On the other hand, conservatives like Joseph Galloway, John Dickinson, John Jay, and Edward Rutledge sought to forge policies to pressure Parliament to rescind its acts and bring about reconciliation between the Colonies and Great Britain.
Foundations of Freedom: First Principles of the US Constitution
You may want to see also
The need for a strong central government
The Articles of Confederation, America's first constitution, had given the Confederation Congress the power to make rules and request funds from the states, but it lacked enforcement powers, the ability to regulate commerce, and the authority to pass and enforce laws that individual states found contrary to their interests. This resulted in an inability to effectively conduct foreign policy and regulate intrastate trade, with states imposing their own import duties.
The Federalists strongly advocated for a strong central government to address these challenges. They believed that Congress needed compulsory taxation authority and the power to regulate foreign and interstate commerce. Alexander Hamilton, a key figure in convincing Congress to organize a Grand Convention of state delegates, shared this view.
However, the Anti-Federalists vehemently opposed a powerful central government, as it reminded them of the one they had recently overthrown. They wanted to ensure that the national government's power over the states was not unlimited. This tension between Federalists and Anti-Federalists marked the ratification campaign, with the Federalists ultimately succeeding in establishing a strong central government.
The delegates to the Constitutional Convention created a model of government that divided federal authority between the Legislative, Judicial, and Executive branches, establishing a system of checks and balances to address the challenges facing the nation.
The First Page of India's Constitution: Who Declared It?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The role of Congress in regulating trade
The First Continental Congress, comprising delegates from 12 of the 13 American colonies, met in Philadelphia in 1774. The meeting was a response to the Coercive Acts, or the Intolerable Acts, which were a series of measures imposed by the British government after the colonies resisted new taxes. The delegates included future presidents John Adams and George Washington, and future U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Jay.
The First Continental Congress discussed boycotting British goods and collectively responding to the British government's coercive actions. They endorsed the Suffolk Resolves, which ordered citizens to not obey the Intolerable Acts, to refuse imported British goods, and to raise a militia. The Congress also agreed on a Declaration and Resolves that included the Continental Association, a proposal for an embargo on British trade.
To address these issues, Congress played a crucial role in shaping the country's trade policies by revising the Articles of Confederation and later adopting the U.S. Constitution. Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and George Washington were key figures in this process, recognizing the need for a stronger central government with the power to regulate commerce and address trade-related issues. The Constitutional Convention, which met in 1787, resulted in the creation of a new constitution that granted Congress the authority to regulate foreign and interstate commerce.
Congress, through the Constitution, established its role in regulating trade by implementing tariffs, taxes, and other trade policies. It also gained the power to negotiate and ratify treaties, impacting international trade relations. The Constitution included provisions to end the slave trade by 1808, addressing a contentious issue that threatened to divide the nation. Additionally, Congress addressed issues arising from the Revolutionary War, such as war pensions and debts, and created a model of government with checks and balances to effectively manage trade and economic policies.
The Founding Words of India's Constitution
You may want to see also
The creation of a new system of government
The First Continental Congress, comprising delegates from 12 of the 13 colonies, met in 1774 in reaction to the Intolerable Acts, a series of punitive measures imposed by the British government after the colonies resisted new taxes. The delegates included future presidents John Adams and George Washington, and future U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Jay. The First Continental Congress was a prelude to the Second Continental Congress, which took the momentous step of declaring America's independence from Britain in 1776.
The delegates to the First Continental Congress discussed boycotting British goods and planned for a Second Continental Congress. They also endorsed the Suffolk Resolves, which ordered citizens to not obey the Intolerable Acts, to refuse imported British goods, and to raise a militia. The First Continental Congress's most fateful decision was to call for a Second Continental Congress to meet the following spring. The delegates wanted to give Britain time to respond to the Continental Association and discuss any developments at the Second Continental Congress.
The Second Continental Congress met in May 1775, shortly after the Battles of Lexington and Concord, and served as the government of the 13 American colonies, and later the United States, from 1774 to 1789. In 1777, the Congress created a constitution, known as the Articles of Confederation, to define its powers. 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 Constitutional Convention assembled in Philadelphia in May 1787 to revise the Articles of Confederation. The delegates created a model of government that relied upon a series of checks and balances by dividing federal authority between the Legislative, the Judicial, and the Executive branches of government. The final report of the committee, which became the first draft of the Constitution, was the first workable constitutional plan. The delegates to the Constitutional Convention created a stronger central government that was necessary to face the nation's challenges.
Murder in Minnesota: Understanding First Degree Charges
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
The First Continental Congress was a meeting of delegates from 12 of the 13 American colonies, held from September 5 to October 26, 1774, in Philadelphia.
The First Continental Congress met to discuss America's future under growing British aggression, specifically in response to the Coercive Acts, known in America as the Intolerable Acts, passed by the British Parliament.
The delegates discussed boycotting British goods and collectively responding to the coercive actions of the British government. They also endorsed the Suffolk Resolves, which included a declaration of grievances, a boycott of British goods, and urged each colony to set up and train its own militia.
The First Continental Congress called for a Second Continental Congress to meet the following spring, giving Britain time to respond to their demands.
The First Continental Congress was the first step towards colonial unity and the organization of colonial resistance, which eventually led to the American Revolutionary War and America's independence from Britain.
