The Question:
How did we get our Constitution?
The Quote:
“We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”
The Constitutional Convention
After declaring independence from Great Britain, the United States colonies sent delegates to the Philadelphia Convention. After many writings and revisions, our first Constitution, the Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union, was born.
What seemed at first to be a permanent document to our new nation began to experience trouble. The federal government did not have the power to levy taxes, raise an army, or compel states to follow any laws. This imbalance of powers rendered the federal government helpless at putting down insurrections and rebellions.
Delegates from every state except Rhode Island attended the new Constitutional Convention, meeting at the Pennsylvania State House from May 14 to September 17, 1787. Originally intending to just amend the existing constitution, the conference shifted focus into drafting an entirely new one.
Different states had different ideas of what they wanted in a Constitution. The large-state favoring Virginia Plan suggested a population-based representation (today’s House of Representatives) whereas the small-state favoring New Jersey Plan proposed using equal representation for every state (today’s Senate). Discussions were in a deadlock as these two ideas fought for the votes needed to become law. It was then that the Connecticut Compromise was offered. An ambitious plan that created a bicameral (two chamber) system that included the Senate where there was equal representation for every state and the House of Representatives where there was population-based representation for every state.
After months of debate, disagreement, compromises, and concessions, 38 of the 41 delegates signed the Constitution on September 17, 1787. Some states ratified it immediately but others refrained, wishing for changes to be made and individual rights to be specified first. After a deal was struck to create the Bill of Rights, the Constitution officially was ratified. Going into effect on March 4, 1789.
This is the story of how we got our Constitution. As always, I’m Joseph Pool, your Poolitician and thank you for plunging into politics!
