Constitution

Constitution A constitution is a nation’s basic law. It creates political institutions, assigns or divides powers in government, and often provides certain guarantees to citizens. The U.S. Constitution is considered the supreme law of the land. The U.S. Constitution has fewer than 8,000 words.

Origins of the Constitution Colonists faced increases in taxes and lacked direct representation in parliament. “Taxation without representation” The First Continental Congress was formed to address the abuses of the English crown. 1774 The Second Continental Congress formed in May 1775 and became the first government of the new United States. It produced the Declaration of Independence in July 1776.

Origins of the Constitution Thirteen states ratified the Articles of Confederation in 1781. It had been proposed in 1777. The Articles created a confederation among the 13 states. The central government had very little power. The central gov’t could set up an army and navy, make war, and settle state disputes. The national gov’t could not make states obey the Articles or laws passed by the legislature. Congress was unicameral and each state had only one vote. There was no president or national court system.

Origins of the Constitution Under the Articles of Confederation, the states had the power to tax and printed their own money. All government powers rested with the states. Shay’s Rebellion in MA convinced many Americans more had to be done to strengthen the national gov’t.

Origins of the Constitution There was a meeting in Annapolis, MD in Sept. 1786 to discuss changes to the Articles of Confederation. Only 5 states sent delegates. Another meeting was scheduled in 1787 in Philadelphia which became the Constitutional Convention.

Constitutional Convention 1787: 55 delegates from 12 states met in Philadelphia to revise the Articles of Confederation. Most of the delegates were wealthy, had a college degree, and some political experience. Rhode Island did not send delegates. The delegates, later known as the Framers, soon realized revising the Articles was impossible. It would require unanimous consent of the delegates. The Framers started writing a new Constitution.

Constitutional Convention VA delegates offered the VA Plan. It called for three branches of gov’t with the number of representatives each state had linked to wealth and population. Small states disagreed. The NJ Plan was proposed. It called for a unicameral legislature with an equal number of representatives from each state. The CT or Great Compromise called for two houses on Congress. Representation in the smaller house would be equal and repr. In the larger house would be based on population.

Three-Fifths Compromise Determined that States could count three-fifths of their slaves as part of their populations, which increased representation in the House.

Constitutional Convention The Constitution was completed on Sept. 17, 1787. The Framers required that 9 out of the 13 states must ratify the document for it to take effect.

Ratifying the Constitution Two groups formed: the Federalists and the Anti-Federalists Anti-Federalists attacked almost every part of the Constitution, but two of its features drew the strongest criticism: (1) the greatly increased powers of the central government and (2) the lack of a bill of rights that would provide for basic liberties such as freedom of speech and religion.

Ratifying the Constitution Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison wrote a series of essays in support of ratification. There were 85 essays written under the Publius. The essays were published in newspapers as letters to the people. The Bill of Rights was added to the Constitution in response to the Anti-Federalist argument over the lack of basic liberties. Constitution was ratified in 1788.