Changes

With [[George Washington]] presiding, the 55 delegates met in secret in Philadelphia and drafted a new document. Rather than revise the current Articles, Madison promptly declared that any confederacy was doomed to failure. The Constitution was approved by Congress and sent to the states for ratification.  After intense debate all 13 states ratified (some with the provision that a [[Bill of Rights]] be added) and the new government took office in March, 1789, with George Washington as the first president.

With [[George Washington]] presiding, the 55 delegates met in secret in Philadelphia and drafted a new document. Rather than revise the current Articles, Madison promptly declared that any confederacy was doomed to failure. The Constitution was approved by Congress and sent to the states for ratification.  After intense debate all 13 states ratified (some with the provision that a [[Bill of Rights]] be added) and the new government took office in March, 1789, with George Washington as the first president.

At the time the Constitution was written, most states had recently written new constitutions of their own, so constitution-making was a well-known process. They all reflected the basic American political value of a Democratic Republic.  Conservatives hail it as a great triumph. [[File:Beeman09.jpg|thumb|280px]]

At the time the Constitution was written, most states had recently written new constitutions of their own, so constitution-making was a well-known process. They all reflected the basic American political value of a Democratic Republic.  Conservatives hail it as a great triumph. [[File:Beeman09.jpg|thumb|280px]]