The Constitution Of 1787: A Resemblance Of Ancient Democracy

The United States Constitution of 1787 has been described as a patchwork quilt due to the independent nature of the thirteen states that came together, each with their own distinct laws. The Constitution was drafted in Philadelphia during the summer of 1787 by 55 delegates, including James Madison, who aimed to address the weaknesses of the central government under the Articles of Confederation. The Constitution established a federal government with more specific powers, particularly in conducting foreign relations, and delineated the framework of the federal government into three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial. The document also faced criticisms for its stance on slavery and voting rights. Despite these controversies, the Constitution has endured as one of the longest-lived and most emulated constitutions globally, striking a balance between governmental power and personal liberty.

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The Constitution of 1787 has been likened to a 'patchwork quilt' due to the independent nature of the 13 states prior to unification

The Constitution of 1787, which established the government of the United States, has been likened to a patchwork quilt due to the independent nature of the 13 states prior to their unification. Before the unification, the 13 states were remarkably disunited, each operating with its own distinct laws and regulations. This posed a significant challenge for the delegates of the Constitutional Convention, who assembled in Philadelphia in May 1787 with the initial intention of revising the Articles of Confederation.

However, as the convention progressed, it became evident that a completely new framework of government was necessary. The delegates, led by James Madison, grappled with contentious issues such as congressional representation, the balance of power between the central government and the states, and the question of slavery. The resulting Constitution, signed on September 17, 1787, by 39 delegates, was a remarkable achievement, striking a delicate balance between governmental power and personal liberty.

The Constitution's main provisions included seven articles that defined the framework of the federal government. The first three articles embodied the doctrine of the separation of powers, dividing the government into three branches: the legislative, consisting of the bicameral Congress; the executive, consisting of the President and subordinate officers; and the judicial, consisting of the Supreme Court and other federal courts. The remaining articles addressed concepts of federalism, outlining the rights and responsibilities of state governments and their relationship with the federal government.

Despite its success in unifying the states and providing stability, the Constitution of 1787 has faced criticisms. One notable criticism is its failure to address the issue of slavery, which remained a significant part of the social and economic fabric in several states. Additionally, the Constitution did not originally define who was eligible to vote, allowing each state to make that determination, which resulted in most states restricting voting rights to white male adult property owners. These criticisms highlight the complex nature of the challenges faced by the framers of the Constitution, who were striving to create a unified nation while navigating the diverse interests and views of the independent states.

The Articles of Confederation, America's first constitution, were deemed too weak and lacked enforcement powers

The United States Constitution of 1787 is considered a remarkable achievement, striking a balance between governmental power and personal liberty. It superseded the Articles of Confederation, which was deemed too weak and lacked enforcement powers.

The Articles of Confederation, created in 1781, was the nation's first constitution. It established a permanent confederation and granted Congress, the only federal institution, limited powers. One of its weaknesses was the lack of authority to levy taxes. Congress could only request that states contribute to the common treasury, but these requests often went unheeded, leaving the nation with a large debt. This weakness was emphasised by Rhode Island's refusal to consent to a revenue amendment, which was agreed upon by twelve other states.

The Articles of Confederation also lacked the power to regulate commerce, both foreign and interstate. Congress's inability to regulate trade meant that it could not protect or standardise trade between foreign nations and the various states. Attempts to amend the Articles to grant Congress power over commerce were largely ignored by the states.

Additionally, the Articles of Confederation did not provide Congress with enforcement powers. Congress could make decisions, but it lacked the authority to compel the states to comply with its requests for troops or funding. This military weakness prevented the United States from enforcing the terms of the Treaty of Paris, which ended hostilities with Great Britain. The British refused to evacuate frontier forts, citing America's failure to uphold the treaty's terms.

The weaknesses in the Articles of Confederation led to the gathering of delegates in Philadelphia during the summer of 1787 to draft a new constitution. The Constitution of 1787, which established the government of the United States, addressed the issues of central government power, representation in Congress, and the election of representatives.

The Constitutional Convention of 1787 addressed the weaknesses of the central government under the Articles of Confederation

The United States Constitution, drafted during the Constitutional Convention of 1787, addressed the weaknesses of the central government under the Articles of Confederation. The Articles of Confederation, the nation's first constitution, established a weak central government with limited powers. The Constitutional Convention of 1787 aimed to create a stronger and more effective central government by addressing several key issues.

One of the main weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation was the lack of a powerful chief executive. The central government lacked the energy and focus needed to govern effectively. The Constitutional Convention addressed this issue by creating an executive branch with a powerful chief executive, the President, who had the authority to conduct foreign relations. This branch was designed to deal with routine paperwork and matters of lesser consequence, while the Senate handled important issues such as the ratification of treaties.

Another weakness of the Articles of Confederation was the challenge of conducting foreign policy. The federal government struggled to pass and enforce laws that individual states had to follow. The Constitutional Convention addressed this issue by granting the executive branch and the legislative branch specific powers related to foreign affairs. The legislative branch, consisting of the bicameral Congress, had the power to pass laws and conduct relations with foreign governments. The executive branch, led by the President, had the authority to enforce these laws and represent the nation in international relations.

The Constitutional Convention of 1787 also addressed economic issues under the Articles of Confederation. The individual states competed against each other economically, issuing their own currencies and levying taxes on each other's goods. Delegates such as Washington, Madison, and Hamilton believed that promoting free commerce across state lines and nationalizing the economy would strengthen the country. The Constitution established a more unified economic system, allowing for the free flow of commerce and a stronger national economy.

Additionally, the Constitutional Convention of 1787 addressed issues of representation and state versus federal powers. Large and small states disagreed over representation in Congress, with large states favouring representation by population and small states arguing for equal representation. The "Great Compromise" resolved this issue by establishing the House of Representatives, apportioned by population, and the Senate, which represented the states equally. The Constitution also outlined the powers of the federal government and the states, with many delegates believing that the federal government should have the authority to overrule state laws.

The Constitutional Convention of 1787 was a remarkable achievement, successfully addressing the weaknesses of the central government under the Articles of Confederation and creating a framework for a stronger and more effective government that has served as the basis of the United States ever since.

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The Constitution's delegates faced challenges regarding slavery, ultimately compromising on several key issues

The Constitution of 1787 is a four-page document that was drafted in secret by 55 delegates to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia. The delegates faced several challenges regarding slavery, which was a significant part of the social and economic fabric in five of the states represented in the Convention. The delegates' commitment to principles of equality was limited, and most of them supported the imposition of property qualifications for voters.

The controversy over slavery was ultimately settled by compromise. The delegates agreed to a 20-year ban on any restrictions on the Atlantic slave trade, and in exchange, southern delegates removed a clause restricting the national government's power to enact laws requiring goods to be shipped on American vessels. The same day, the convention also adopted the fugitive slave clause, requiring the return of runaway slaves to their owners. The Constitution also included the notorious three-fifths clause, which counted three-fifths of a state's slave population in apportioning representation, giving the South extra representation in the House of Representatives and extra votes in the Electoral College.

The delegates' compromise on slavery was a highly imperfect solution to a real problem. By sidestepping the slavery issue, the framers left the seeds for future conflict. The specific clauses of the Constitution related to slavery were the Three-Fifths Clause, the ban on Congress ending the slave trade for twenty years, the fugitive slave clause, and the slave insurrections clause. The framers consciously avoided using the word "slavery," recognising that it would sully the document. However, slavery received important protections in the Constitution, and the framers believed that concessions on slavery were necessary to gain the support of southern delegates for a strong central government.

The Constitution's compromise on slavery has been criticised as unsustainable and as a pro-slavery document. The compromise temporarily strengthened slavery, but it also created a central government powerful enough to eventually abolish the institution. The Civil War and the Reconstruction Amendments ultimately abolished slavery and granted citizenship and voting rights to former slaves.

The Constitution's creation was influenced by the Iroquois Confederacy, according to scholars Donald Grinde and Bruce Johansen

The United States Constitution, signed on September 17, 1787, was created to establish the government of the United States. The document, consisting of seven articles, outlines the basic framework of the federal government and the separation of powers.

The Constitution's creation was influenced by various factors, including the political context of the time and the commitment to principles of equality. Additionally, according to scholars Donald Grinde and Bruce Johansen, the Iroquois Confederacy also played a significant role in shaping the Constitution. Grinde and Johansen argue that there is "overwhelming evidence" that the political concepts and ideas of the Iroquois Confederacy influenced the U.S. Constitution. They are considered the most outspoken supporters of this theory, which has been referred to as the "Iroquois thesis."

Grinde and Johansen highlight the fact that the framers of the Constitution sought to borrow aspects of Iroquois government, particularly those that enabled the assertion of the people's sovereignty over vast geographic areas. The Iroquois Confederacy, also known as the Haudenosaunee, united the Mohawk, Seneca, Onondaga, Oneida, Cayuga, and eventually the Tuscarora people under a unified system of governance. This federal-style government, with its focus on unification and mutual defense, may have inspired the framers of the Constitution as they sought to create a strong and unified nation.

Grinde, a professor of transnational studies at the University of Buffalo and a member of the Yamasee nation, along with Johansen, argue that the framers of the Constitution cited the Iroquois and other Native governments as examples of federalism. They point out that the Iroquois Confederacy's structure, with its division of powers and concepts of federalism, influenced the thinking of the constitutional framers. Additionally, Grinde and Johansen identify the adoption of Native American symbols and imagery by the nascent United States, such as the American bald eagle and a bundle of arrows.

However, it is important to note that the Iroquois-influence theory has been questioned and criticized by various historians. Critics argue that the evidence is largely circumstantial and that the similarities between the Iroquois Confederacy and the U.S. Constitution may be coincidental. For example, historian Philip Levy claims that Grinde and Johansen misused John Adams's material, stating that he was describing the structure of England's government rather than that of the Iroquois Confederacy. Nonetheless, the theory has gained significant attention, with historians holding conferences to sift through the evidence and explore the potential influence of the Iroquois Confederacy on the creation of the United States Constitution.

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