The Constitution's Signatories: Lawmakers Of America

The United States Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, by 39 delegates at the conclusion of the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia. The Constitution would not become binding until it was ratified by nine of the 13 states. 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 document, and it was subsequently agreed that the government under the U.S. Constitution would begin on March 4, 1789.

The signing of the US Constitution

The process of drafting the Constitution began in May 1787, when delegates convened in Philadelphia with the initial goal of amending the existing Articles of Confederation. However, it quickly became clear that a completely new form of government was needed. The delegates engaged in secret debates and discussions throughout the summer, grappling with issues such as the balance of power between the central government and the states, representation in Congress, and the protection of individual liberties.

The final document reflected a series of compromises, including the Great Compromise (or Connecticut Compromise), which established proportional representation in the House of Representatives and equal representation for each state in the Senate. Another compromise addressed the issue of slavery, with delegates agreeing to protect the slave trade for 20 years and allowing states to count slaves as part of their populations for representation purposes.

Despite these compromises, several delegates were disappointed by the final document, believing that it fell short of their expectations. Some left before the signing ceremony, and three of those who remained refused to sign. However, Benjamin Franklin, the oldest signer at 81 years old, summed up the sentiments of those who did sign, stating, "There are several parts of this Constitution which I do not at present approve, but I am not sure I shall never approve them."

The signing of the Constitution was just the first step in the process of establishing a new government. The document had to be ratified by nine of the 13 state legislatures before it could take effect. This led to further debates and the emergence of two factions: the Federalists, who supported the Constitution, and the Anti-Federalists, who opposed it. James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay played a crucial role in advocating for the Constitution through a series of essays known as the Federalist Papers.

The first state to ratify the Constitution was Delaware on December 7, 1787, followed by several others. The debate over ratification was intense, with some states expressing concerns about the lack of protection for certain rights. Eventually, a compromise was reached, known as the Massachusetts Compromise, which led to the inclusion of a Bill of Rights. On June 21, 1788, New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify the Constitution, and the new government was set to begin operating on March 4, 1789.

The Constitutional Convention

The Convention

The convention was attended by 55 delegates, including George Washington, James Madison, Benjamin Franklin, James Wilson, John Rutledge, Charles Pinckney, Oliver Ellsworth, and Gouverneur Morris. The delegates elected George Washington as the president of the convention.

The convention was initially intended to revise the Articles of Confederation, but many of its proponents, including James Madison and Alexander Hamilton, intended to create a new frame of government. The convention's mandate was limited to amending the Articles of Confederation, which had proven ineffective in meeting the young nation's needs. However, the delegates quickly began considering measures to replace the Articles.

Two plans were proposed for the new government: the Virginia Plan, which called for a bicameral legislature with representation based on state population, and the New Jersey Plan, which proposed a unicameral legislature with one vote per state. The delegates debated the composition and election procedures for the Senate, the role of the executive, and the issue of slavery, among other topics.

The Connecticut Compromise

The convention reached a stalemate over representation, with large states and small states unable to agree. This was resolved through the Connecticut Compromise, also known as the Great Compromise, which proposed a bicameral legislature with proportional representation in the lower house (the House of Representatives) and equal representation in the upper house (the Senate).

The Final Document

The final version of the Constitution was drafted by the Committee of Style and Arrangement, which included Alexander Hamilton, Gouverneur Morris, James Madison, Rufus King, and William Samuel Johnson. The document was signed by 39 of the 55 delegates on September 17, 1787. The Constitution then went through a ratification process, becoming the official framework of the United States government in 1789.

The Articles of Confederation

The Articles gave little power to the central government. While the Confederation Congress had some decision-making abilities, it lacked enforcement powers. The implementation of most decisions, including amendments to the Articles, required legislative approval by all 13 of the newly formed states.

The Articles established a “league of friendship” for the 13 sovereign and independent states. Each state retained "every Power...which is not by this confederation expressly delegated to the United States". The document also outlined a Congress with representation not based on population – each state would have one vote in Congress.

Ratification by all 13 states was necessary to set the Confederation into motion. Because of disputes over representation, voting, and the western lands claimed by some states, ratification was delayed. When Maryland ratified it on March 1, 1781, the Congress of the Confederation came into being.

Just a few years after the Revolutionary War, however, James Madison and George Washington were among those who feared their young country was on the brink of collapse. With the states retaining considerable power, the central government had insufficient power to regulate commerce. It could not tax and was generally impotent in setting commercial policy. Nor could it effectively support a war effort. Congress was attempting to function with a depleted treasury; and paper money was flooding the country, creating extraordinary inflation.

The states were on the brink of economic disaster; and the central government had little power to settle quarrels between states. Disputes over territory, war pensions, taxation, and trade threatened to tear the country apart.

In May 1787, the Constitutional Convention assembled in Philadelphia to revise the Articles of Confederation. They shuttered the windows of the State House (Independence Hall) and swore secrecy so they could speak freely. By mid-June the delegates had decided to completely redesign the government. After three hot, summer months of highly charged debate, the new Constitution was signed, which remains in effect today.

Ratification of the Constitution

The ratification of the United States Constitution was a long and arduous process. The country was governed by the Articles of Confederation, which 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. It became clear to some of America's leaders that future stability required a stronger, more centralized government.

Alexander Hamilton led the call for a constitutional convention to reevaluate the nation's governing document. The Confederation Congress endorsed his initiative, and representatives from all 13 states were invited to convene in Philadelphia on May 25, 1787, to participate in the Convention. The delegates to the convention were chosen by the state legislatures of 12 of the 13 original states; Rhode Island refused to send delegates.

The delegates' initial purpose was to amend the Articles of Confederation, but by mid-June, they had decided to completely redesign the government. The delegates appointed a Committee of Detail to put its decisions in writing, and a Committee of Style and Arrangement condensed 23 articles into seven in less than four days. On September 17, 1787, 38 delegates signed the Constitution, with George Reed signing on behalf of John Dickinson of Delaware, bringing the total number of signatures to 39.

The founders set the terms for ratifying the Constitution, bypassing the state legislatures and calling for special ratifying conventions in each state. Ratification by nine of the 13 states was required for the new government to be enacted. The Federalists, who believed that a strong central government was necessary, needed to convert at least three states. The Anti-Federalists fought against the Constitution because it created a powerful central government and 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. Some states voiced opposition to the Constitution on the grounds that it did not provide protection for rights such as freedom of speech, religion, and the press. The terms of the Massachusetts Compromise, reached in February 1788, stipulated that amendments to that effect—what became the Bill of Rights—would be immediately proposed.

On June 21, 1788, New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify the Constitution, officially ending government under the Articles of Confederation. The Constitution became the official framework of the government of the United States of America. However, it was not until May 29, 1790, that the last state, Rhode Island, finally ratified the document. The Constitution has since been amended 27 times.

The Bill of Rights

The First Amendment prohibits the government from interfering with the freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition. It also prevents the government from creating or favouring a religion.

The Second Amendment protects the right to keep and bear arms.

The Third Amendment prevents the government from forcing citizens to quarter soldiers in their homes without their consent.

The Fourth Amendment protects citizens from unreasonable search and seizure. The government may not conduct any searches without a warrant, and such warrants must be issued by a judge and based on probable cause.

The Fifth Amendment provides several protections for people accused of crimes. It states that serious criminal charges must be started by a grand jury. A person cannot be tried twice for the same offence (double jeopardy) or have property taken away without just compensation. People have the right against self-incrimination and cannot be imprisoned without due process of law.

The Sixth Amendment provides additional protections to people accused of crimes, such as the right to a speedy and public trial, trial by an impartial jury in criminal cases, and to be informed of criminal charges. Witnesses must face the accused, and the accused is allowed his or her own witnesses and to be represented by a lawyer.

The Seventh Amendment extends the right to a jury trial in Federal civil cases.

The Eighth Amendment prohibits excessive bail, excessive fines, and cruel and unusual punishment.

The Ninth Amendment states that listing specific rights in the Constitution does not mean that people do not have other rights that have not been spelled out.

The Tenth Amendment assigns all powers not delegated to the United States, or prohibited to the States, to either the States or to the people.

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