Malcolm Rivera
The Constitution was almost not ratified because it created a distant, centralised government that resembled the British government. The Confederation Congress was also unable to pay its debts, including soldiers' pensions, and commanded no respect abroad. The economy was in freefall, and the states were on the verge of devolving into regional confederacies. It was not ratified by all states until May 29, 1790, when Rhode Island finally approved the document.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Resemblance to the British government | The Constitution created a distant, centralised government that dangerously resembled the British government |
| Congress's inability to pay debts | The Confederation Congress could not pay its debts, including soldiers' pensions |
| Lack of international respect | Congress commanded no respect abroad |
| Weak national boundaries | Lacked the power to protect the country's boundaries |
| Poor economic state | The economy was in freefall |
| Regional confederacies | The states lay on the verge of devolving into regional confederacies |
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What You'll Learn
The Articles of Confederation were flawed
The flaws of the Articles of Confederation became apparent in the years following their ratification. The unity of the nation was sorely tested, and the government was so weak that it threatened to dissolve. The Articles were so flawed that the delegates to the Constitutional Convention of 1787 were originally tasked with amending them. However, the delegates ultimately decided to create a completely new form of government, as embodied in the U.S. Constitution.
The Constitution created a stronger central government that included a Congress with the power to tax, a President who would act as the nation's chief executive, and a national court system. The Constitution also provided for a more unified country, with a single capital city that was born out of negotiation. The Constitution was not ratified by all states until May 29, 1790, when Rhode Island finally approved the document, and the Bill of Rights was not ratified until the end of the following year.
The Constitution: Written, Ratified, and Signed
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The Constitution created a distant, centralised government
The Constitution was criticised for creating a distant, centralised government that resembled the British government. This was a concern for some Americans who had only recently fought for their independence from Britain. The Constitution created a stronger central government that included a Congress with the power to tax, a President who would act as the nation’s chief executive, and a national court system.
Federalists supported the ratification of the Constitution, arguing that the proposed design was the only way to save the country from foreign invasion or anarchy. They pointed out that the Confederation Congress could not pay its debts, including soldiers’ pensions, and lacked the power to protect the country’s boundaries. The economy was in freefall and the states were on the verge of devolving into regional confederacies.
However, the Constitution was not ratified by all states until May 29, 1790, when Rhode Island finally approved the document.
The Bill of Rights: Ensuring Happiness After the Constitution
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The economy was in freefall
The Constitution was almost not ratified because the economy was in freefall. The Confederation Congress could not pay its debts, including soldiers' pensions, and commanded no respect abroad. It also lacked the power to protect the country's boundaries. The country was in danger of devolving into regional confederacies. The Constitution created a stronger central government that included a Congress with the power to tax, a President who would act as the nation's chief executive, and a national court system.
The Constitution's Ratification: Voting Rights for Blacks
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The Confederation Congress was powerless
The proposed Constitution created a stronger central government that included a Congress with the power to tax, a President who would act as the nation's chief executive, and a national court system. Federalists coalesced around the cause of ratifying the Constitution, insisting that the proposed design was the only way to save the country from foreign invasion or anarchy.
The initial purpose of the Convention was to amend the Articles of Confederation, but the outcome was the proposal and creation of a completely new form of government. Under Article VII, it was agreed that the document would not be binding until its ratification by nine of the 13 existing states.
The Constitution was not ratified by all states until May 29, 1790, when Rhode Island finally approved the document. The capital was not set until July 16, 1790, almost a year and a half after the general elections took place.
Virginia's Ratification: A Vital Step for the Constitution
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The Constitution was not ratified by all states until 1790
The Constitution was not ratified by all states until 29 May 1790, when Rhode Island finally approved the document. The Bill of Rights was not ratified until the end of the following year. The Constitution was signed by 38 out of 41 delegates on 17 September 1787, and it was agreed that it would not be binding until it was ratified by nine of the 13 existing states.
George Washington believed that the Constitution should be ratified because the unity of the nation had been tested under the Articles of Confederation. He feared that the current government was so weak that it would soon dissolve. The Federalists also supported the ratification of the Constitution, arguing that it was the only way to save the country from foreign invasion or anarchy. They pointed to the Confederation Congress's inability to pay its debts, its lack of respect abroad, its lack of power to protect the country's boundaries, the failing economy, and the risk of the states devolving into regional confederacies.
However, skeptics of the Constitution pointed out that it created a distant, centralised government that resembled the British government.
Women's Suffrage: A Constitutional Conundrum
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Frequently asked questions
Some people opposed the ratification of the Constitution because they believed it created a distant, centralised government that dangerously resembled the British government.
Federalists supported the ratification of the Constitution because they believed it was the only way to save the country from foreign invasion or anarchy. They argued that the Confederation Congress could not pay its debts, commanded no respect abroad, and lacked the power to protect the country's boundaries.
The Constitution was not ratified by all states until May 29, 1790, when Rhode Island finally approved the document. It took so long because the Constitution was not perfect and there were many skeptics who opposed it.
