The Constitution...
On May 14, 1787, the Federal Convention gathered in Philadelphia to go on and revise the Articles of Confederation. It took time for the delegates from all the 13 states to get there, but by May 25, seven of the thirteen had gathered and would proceed on revising the Articles of Confederation.
By mid-June, they had realized that instead of rewriting the Articles, they will draft a new document that would be the frame of the new government; this was based on James Madison's Virginia Plan, which traced a powerful national government. He planned for political institutions to be run by men of high character. He had been part of the Confederation Congress and the Virginia Assembly.
Through all the summer, they had closed session in which they discussed and debated the articles of the new Constitution. They addressed many issues, but some of the most important was how to basically run the government. They had to make a decision on how much power the central government has, how many representatives would be assigned to each state and how these delegates should be elected. There was a big debate about this issue, the more populated states sought proportional legislation but small states wanted equal representation. Fortunately, this problem was solved when they came up with a proposition for a bicameral legislature with proper representation in the lower house, the House of Representatives and the will have equal representation of states in the upper house, the Senate. They also came up with a great idea for federal organization that was based by an intricate system of checks and balances. During the convention, Virginian war hero, George Washington, was elected president of the United States.
On September 17, 1787 the Constitution was signed but they had agreed to not be binding until at least 9 of the thirteen states ratified. Many states ratified it quick, like Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and others. But there were states who opposed, like Massachusetts, as they said that the Constitution failed to reserve the delegated powers to the states and lacked constitutional protection of everyone's basic rights, like freedom of religion and press. By February of 1788, a compromise for Massachusetts was reached and many of the other states ratified the Constitution.
On June 21, 1788, New Hampshire was the ninth state to sign the Constitution, and so the document was ratified and they had agreed that the new type of government under the new Constitution would begin on March 4, 1789.
By mid-June, they had realized that instead of rewriting the Articles, they will draft a new document that would be the frame of the new government; this was based on James Madison's Virginia Plan, which traced a powerful national government. He planned for political institutions to be run by men of high character. He had been part of the Confederation Congress and the Virginia Assembly.
Through all the summer, they had closed session in which they discussed and debated the articles of the new Constitution. They addressed many issues, but some of the most important was how to basically run the government. They had to make a decision on how much power the central government has, how many representatives would be assigned to each state and how these delegates should be elected. There was a big debate about this issue, the more populated states sought proportional legislation but small states wanted equal representation. Fortunately, this problem was solved when they came up with a proposition for a bicameral legislature with proper representation in the lower house, the House of Representatives and the will have equal representation of states in the upper house, the Senate. They also came up with a great idea for federal organization that was based by an intricate system of checks and balances. During the convention, Virginian war hero, George Washington, was elected president of the United States.
On September 17, 1787 the Constitution was signed but they had agreed to not be binding until at least 9 of the thirteen states ratified. Many states ratified it quick, like Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and others. But there were states who opposed, like Massachusetts, as they said that the Constitution failed to reserve the delegated powers to the states and lacked constitutional protection of everyone's basic rights, like freedom of religion and press. By February of 1788, a compromise for Massachusetts was reached and many of the other states ratified the Constitution.
On June 21, 1788, New Hampshire was the ninth state to sign the Constitution, and so the document was ratified and they had agreed that the new type of government under the new Constitution would begin on March 4, 1789.
Picture of the signers of the U.S. Constitution.
Taken from (http://www.bnbhomeschoolstore.com/webstore/pc/catalog/PL/E1037-1-D.JPG)
Taken from (http://www.bnbhomeschoolstore.com/webstore/pc/catalog/PL/E1037-1-D.JPG)
US Constitution
This is a picture of the first page of the Constitution that was written in 1787.
Taken from (http://www.thisnation.com/media/photos/constitution-hires.jpg)
Taken from (http://www.thisnation.com/media/photos/constitution-hires.jpg)
Signature
This is a representational picture of George Washington signing the U.S. Constitution.
Taken from (http://www.boston.com/news/globe/ideas/articles/2006/10/22/get_me_rewrite/)
Taken from (http://www.boston.com/news/globe/ideas/articles/2006/10/22/get_me_rewrite/)
Header picture taken from http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/constitution.html