Eleanor Finch
The United States Constitution was written in 1787, following the Revolutionary War, to prevent the young country from collapsing. The first constitution, 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 was conducted under an oath of secrecy, and after months of passionate and thoughtful debate, a Committee of Detail was appointed to put its decisions in writing. The Constitution was written in such detail because it was intended to render the federal constitution adequate to the exigencies of government and the preservation of the Union.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| To form a more perfect union | To establish a stronger national government |
| To establish justice | To ensure fairness and impartiality in the legal system |
| To ensure domestic tranquility | To maintain peace and order within the country |
| To provide for the common defense | To protect the nation from external threats |
| To promote the general welfare | To improve the well-being and prosperity of the people |
| To secure the blessings of liberty | To guarantee freedom and protect the rights of the citizens |
| To create a powerful central government | To establish a strong federal government with the necessary powers to govern effectively |
| To revise the Articles of Confederation | To address the shortcomings of the previous constitution, including the lack of enforcement powers and the inability to regulate commerce and print money |
| To prevent the collapse of the young country | To ensure the stability and longevity of the nation |
| To protect states' rights | To balance the powers of the central government and the individual states |
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What You'll Learn
The Articles of Confederation were inadequate
Secondly, 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, could not regulate commerce, and could not print money. This led to disputes between the states over territory, war pensions, taxation, and trade, threatening to tear the young country apart.
Thirdly, the document was practically impossible to amend as it required unanimous consent from all 13 states, which was challenging given the rivalries between them. Additionally, the states were able to conduct their own foreign policies and had their own money systems, further fragmenting the country.
Finally, the Articles of Confederation created a weak and ineffective central government that many Americans believed was inadequate. The Articles gave official recognition to some of the procedures used by Congress to conduct business, but their limitations were clear to many delegates. The Articles were meant to form a wartime confederation of states, but the central government was extremely limited in its powers and unable to address the urgent needs of the nation.
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The country was on the brink of collapse
The Congress of the Confederation had "virtually ceased trying to govern". The vision of a respectable nation among nations seemed to be fading in the eyes of revolutionaries such as George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, and Rufus King. Their dream of a republic, a nation without hereditary rulers, with power derived from the people in frequent elections, was in doubt.
On February 21, 1787, the Confederation Congress called a convention of state delegates in Philadelphia to propose revisions to the Articles. Unlike earlier attempts, the convention was not meant for new laws or piecemeal alterations, but for the "sole and express purpose of revising the Articles of Confederation". The convention was not limited to commerce; rather, it was intended to "render the federal constitution adequate to the exigencies of government and the preservation of the Union".
Alexander 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 of 1787. The delegates soon realized they were forming an entirely new form of government. On July 26, 1787, after two months of fierce debate over the structure and powers of a new federal government, the Constitutional Convention was ready to commit its resolutions to writing. Appointing a "committee of detail" to draft a written constitution, the Convention adjourned until August 6.
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The need for a strong central government
The Constitution of the United States was written in 1787, just a few years after the Revolutionary War. At the time, prominent figures such as James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and George Washington feared that their young country was on the brink of collapse. America's first constitution, the Articles of Confederation, had given the Confederation Congress the authority to make rules and request funds from the states, but it lacked enforcement powers, the ability to regulate commerce, or print money. The states' disputes over territory, war pensions, taxation, and trade threatened to tear the country apart.
The Constitutional Convention, also known as the Philadelphia Convention, was convened from May 25 to September 17, 1787, to address these issues and revise the Articles of Confederation. However, the delegates soon abandoned the idea of simply revising the Articles and instead drafted a new Constitution with a much stronger national government. They recognized the need for a strong central government to effectively tackle the nation's challenges and prevent the country from falling apart.
The Federalists, who supported the Constitution, believed that a robust central government was necessary to address the pressing issues facing the nation. On the other hand, the Anti-Federalists opposed the Constitution, arguing that it created a powerful central government reminiscent of the one they had just overthrown during the Revolutionary War. They also criticized the lack of a bill of rights. The debate between these two factions was passionate and intense, with the Federalists ultimately succeeding in convincing enough states to ratify the Constitution.
The delegates to the Constitutional Convention represented diverse interests and views, and they worked to find compromises that would satisfy all parties. They understood that a strong central government did not mean unlimited power in the hands of a few, but rather a balanced and effective system of governance. The Constitution they crafted established a powerful central government while also providing checks and balances to prevent the abuse of power. It was a delicate balance between creating a robust national government and preserving the liberties and rights of the people.
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The influence of political philosophers
The US Constitution was influenced by the political philosophies of the time, including natural rights, republicanism, and constitutionalism. These ideas were part of the common intellectual currency of 18th-century America, with the works of philosophers such as Locke, Montesquieu, and Cicero widely discussed in pamphlets published during the Revolution and the debates over the adoption and ratification of the Constitution.
One of the most influential philosophers on the Constitution was John Locke, who tackled the problem of justifying authority over others in a society where everyone is created equal. For Locke, consent is the cornerstone of political authority, with individuals giving their consent through a social compact, relinquishing some of their natural liberty to gain civil liberty within a governed society. This belief in limited government power profoundly influenced America's foundational documents, including the Declaration of Independence, which echoes Locke's philosophy in its assertion that "all men are created equal" and endowed with "certain inalienable Rights."
Locke's perspective on the extent of government power is clear—it is limited to actions necessary for the common good. Government exists primarily to protect life, liberty, and property, and its authority does not extend beyond what is required for this purpose. This idea of a social contract, where individuals give up some natural liberties for civil liberties, is reflected in the Constitution's checks and balances system, ensuring no single branch holds unchecked power.
Another influential philosopher was Montesquieu, whose theory of the separation of powers exerted a strong influence on the Framers of the Constitution. His work, "The Spirit of Laws," argued for the division of governmental authority into distinct branches to prevent the concentration of power and the potential for tyranny. The Framers of the Constitution also drew from the classical traditions of the Roman Republic and the philosophical works of Cicero, emphasizing the common good and the responsibilities of citizens within a republic.
The influence of these political philosophies, combined with the Enlightenment-era beliefs in laws and government responsibility to the governed, shaped the detailed and thoughtful nature of the US Constitution.
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The ratification process
The delegates to the Constitutional Convention of 1787 were familiar with this decade-long constitutional heritage. The first steps in ratifying the new constitution occurred before and during the meeting of the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in May 1787. A widespread, uncoordinated campaign took place throughout the country to convince the people that the Articles of Confederation needed to be revised to maintain the Union.
The delegates appointed a Committee of Detail to put its decisions in writing. Near the end of the convention, a Committee of Style and Arrangement condensed 23 articles into seven in less than four days. On September 17, 1787, 38 or 39 delegates signed the Constitution. George Reed signed for John Dickinson of Delaware, bringing the total number of signatures to 39.
The Constitution was then sent to the states for debate and ratification votes. Ratification by nine of the 13 states was required to enact the new government. The Federalists, who believed that a strong central government was necessary to face the nation's challenges, needed to convert at least three states. The Anti-Federalists fought hard against the Constitution because it created a powerful central government that reminded them of the one they had just overthrown, and it lacked a bill of rights.
The first state to ratify the Constitution was Delaware on December 7, 1787, followed by Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticut. On June 21, 1788, New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify the Constitution, making it the official framework for the government of the United States of America. All 13 states eventually ratified the U.S. Constitution by May 29, 1790.
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Frequently asked questions
The US Constitution was written in detail to establish a powerful central government and to secure the blessings of liberty for the people. The Constitution was also influenced by the study of the Magna Carta and other ancient and extant federations.
The US Constitution was written to replace the Articles of Confederation, which many believed had created a weak and ineffective central government. 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, and couldn't print money.
The Committee of Detail was appointed to put the delegates' decisions in writing. The committee studied the Convention's resolutions, state constitutions, the Articles of Confederation, and other applicable reports and documents before drafting a written constitution.
The US Constitution has had a significant impact on American history and the spread of democratic ideals worldwide. It is one of the longest-lived and most emulated constitutions and continues to be the supreme law of the land.
The US Constitution was ratified by the states, with nine of the thirteen states enacting the new government. The Federalists, who supported a strong central government, needed to convert at least three states as several states, including Virginia, New York, and Massachusetts, expressed concerns. Eventually, eleven states ratified the Constitution, which instituted a new form of government for the United States.
