The Constitution: Delegates' Decision To Sign

The United States Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Of the 74 delegates chosen to represent 12 of the 13 states (the 13th state, Rhode Island, did not send any delegates), 55 attended the sessions and 39 signed the Constitution. The delegates who signed the Constitution hoped that it would be a practical, workable constitution that would meet the immediate needs of the 13 states and their approximately 4 million inhabitants. Benjamin Franklin, the oldest signer at 81 years old, summed up the sentiments of those who did sign, stating that while he did not approve of several parts of the Constitution, he would accept it because he did not expect anything better and was unsure if anything better could be achieved.

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The Articles of Confederation failed to empower the central government

The Articles of Confederation, officially the Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union, was the first attempt at a frame of government during the American Revolution. It established a weak confederal government, with a central government that had very limited powers.

Secondly, the Articles of Confederation denied Congress any powers of taxation. The central government was entirely dependent on the states for funding, and the states often failed to meet these requests, resulting in a chronic lack of funds for both Congress and the Continental Army. This financial weakness was further exacerbated by the inability to collect taxes, as the Confederation relied on voluntary contributions from the states. The lack of financial autonomy and the dependence on state funding left the central government vulnerable and unable to maintain an effective military or back its own currency.

Additionally, the Articles of Confederation required unanimous consent from all thirteen states for any amendments to be made. Given the rivalries and disagreements between the states, this made the document practically impossible to amend and adapt to changing circumstances.

The limitations of the Articles of Confederation became increasingly apparent over time, and the need for a stronger central government was recognised. The inability of the central government to address internal conflicts, such as Shays' Rebellion, and its failure to protect the "perpetual union" alarmed many, including prominent figures like George Washington, James Madison, and Alexander Hamilton.

As a result, delegates from multiple states met to discuss changing the Articles of Confederation, eventually leading to the creation and signing of the United States Constitution on September 17, 1787. This new document laid out a federal government with three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial, addressing the shortcomings of the Articles of Confederation and empowering the central government to effectively govern the nation.

The new Constitution expanded the power of the central government

The signing of the United States Constitution took place on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 39 delegates representing 12 states endorsed the Constitution, which was created during a four-month-long convention. The new Constitution expanded the power of the central government in several ways.

Firstly, it transformed Congress into a bicameral legislature with additional powers, including the ability to make laws, request funds from states, and regulate commerce and taxation. This was a significant change from the Articles of Confederation, which gave the Confederation Congress rule-making power but no enforcement powers and no ability to regulate commerce or print money. The new Constitution also established a national judicial system and a federal system with the power to govern the country.

Secondly, the Constitution addressed the concerns of those who feared an overly strong central government by creating a system of separation of powers and checks and balances. The federal government's power was defined in relation to the states, with each branch of government having different responsibilities and powers. This ensured that the national government had the necessary authority to address the country's challenges while also respecting state sovereignty and preventing the concentration of too much power in the central government.

Additionally, the Constitution provided for the direct representation of the citizenry, bypassing state legislatures, and allowed for amendments to be made, ensuring that it could be a living document adaptable to the changing needs of the nation. The ratification process also demonstrated the expanded power of the central government, as it was enacted by the people themselves in state conventions rather than by state legislatures, with ratification by 9 of the 13 states enacting the new government.

The new Constitution's expansion of central government power was a significant shift from the Articles of Confederation, and it laid the foundation for the functioning of the nation's federal government and its three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial.

The endorsement language was made intentionally ambiguous to win over dissenting delegates

The signing of the United States Constitution took place on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Of the 74 delegates chosen, 55 attended, and 39 signed the document. The signing ceremony followed a four-month-long convention, during which a Committee of Detail was selected to draft a constitution that reflected the resolutions passed by the convention.

The endorsement language of the Constitution was crafted to be intentionally ambiguous to secure the support of dissenting delegates. Conceived by Gouverneur Morris and presented by Benjamin Franklin, the formula "Done in convention by the unanimous consent of the states present...." was devised to give the appearance of unanimous support from the delegations from each state. Advocates for the new framework of government recognised the challenge of obtaining the consent of the states and sought to avoid the potential refusal of delegates to give their individual assent to the Constitution.

The ambiguous endorsement language was part of a broader strategy to ensure the Constitution's adoption by the states present. This closing protocol included a declaration of the delegates' successful completion of their work and their subscription to the final document. The convention's secretary, William Jackson, added a note verifying four amendments made to the document and signed to authenticate its validity.

The signing of the Constitution was a significant step in establishing the nation's federal government and outlining the functioning of its three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial. The unanimous consent formula in the endorsement language contributed to presenting a unified front, even if, in reality, there may have been varying levels of support among the delegates.

It is worth noting that not all delegates were present during the signing ceremony, and a few of those who remained refused to sign. Despite this, the intentional ambiguity in the endorsement language played a strategic role in garnering support and creating the perception of unanimity among the states.

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The majority of delegates had served in the Continental and/or Confederation Congresses

The majority of delegates to the Constitutional Convention had served in the Continental Congress, the Confederation Congress, or both. These men had firsthand experience with the difficulties of governing a nation under the Articles of Confederation. They knew that a stronger, more effective national government was needed to address the problems facing the young nation.

The delegates to the Continental Congress, for example, had struggled to secure funding and resources for the Revolutionary War effort. They had also experienced the challenges of conducting diplomacy and negotiating treaties without a strong central government. The weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation were clear to these men, and they recognized the need for a new constitution that would establish a more robust and effective national government.

Similarly, those who served in the Confederation Congress had the unenviable task of trying to govern the United States under the Articles of Confederation. This government had limited powers and was largely ineffective, with no power to levy taxes, regulate commerce, or enforce its laws. The country was in a state of near-constant crisis, with economic stagnation, unrest, and instability. The delegates who served in the Confederation Congress witnessed the shortcomings of the Articles and understood the urgent need for a constitutional change that would provide a stronger foundation for the nation.

The experiences of these delegates in the Continental and Confederation Congresses shaped their views on the importance of a strong central government. They believed that a robust national government was necessary to ensure the country's stability, prosperity, and security. This perspective influenced the provisions they supported during the Constitutional Convention, including the creation of a strong executive branch, a supreme court, and a system of checks and balances to prevent the abuse of power and protect the rights of the people.

Overall, the majority of delegates who signed the Constitution had a clear understanding of the challenges facing the nation due to their service in the Continental and/or Confederation Congresses. Their experiences informed their decision to support a new constitution, one that would establish a more effective and robust national government, addressing the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation and laying the foundation for the United States as a strong, unified nation.

The signing of the Constitution was the result of four months of intense debates and revisions

The signing of the United States Constitution on September 17, 1787, was the culmination of a four-month-long convention that saw intense debates and revisions. The Constitutional Convention, held in Independence Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, aimed to address the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation, which had established the first national government but failed to empower the central government effectively.

Twelve of the thirteen states were represented at the convention, with 55 delegates in attendance out of the 70 to 74 individuals appointed by the states. The delegates debated competing proposals, such as the "`New Jersey Plan,," which favoured retaining the essential features of the Articles of Confederation, and the Virginia Plan, which proposed an entirely new government. The convention's discussions resulted in a draft constitution that underwent further revisions before becoming the final document we know as the Constitution.

The Constitution expanded the powers of the central government while protecting the prerogatives of the states. The delegates' endorsement of the Constitution included signatures, a declaration of successful completion, and a formulaic dating of its adoption. The signing ceremony was a significant moment in American history, with the delegates ranging in age from 26-year-old Jonathan Dayton to 81-year-old Benjamin Franklin, who had to be carried to the sessions due to his infirmity.

The signing of the Constitution was not without dissent, as some delegates expressed reservations, and three refused to sign it altogether. The delegates who did not sign shared the "Anti-Federalist" view, preferring the decentralised nature of the Articles of Confederation as a check on the power of the central government. Despite these differences, the signing of the Constitution marked a pivotal moment in the formation of the United States' federal government and the delineation of its three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial.

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