Changes

After all the compromises and hard work of the committees, most (but not all) of the delegates at the Convention agreed to the final version of the Constitution; 39 (out of the original 55) signed it on Sept. 17, 1787 (now honored annually as "Constitution Day").  The Constitution begins with its Preamble which shows that the People are in charge: "We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union ... do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."

After all the compromises and hard work of the committees, most (but not all) of the delegates at the Convention agreed to the final version of the Constitution; 39 (out of the original 55) signed it on Sept. 17, 1787 (now honored annually as "Constitution Day").  The Constitution begins with its Preamble which shows that the People are in charge: "We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union ... do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."

Benjamin Franklin, upon leaving the Convention (which had been conducted in secrecy), was asked by a member of the public what kind of government he created.  Franklin famously replied, "A Republic, if you can keep it."  Franklin was right that it requires constant hard work by many citizens to preserve our wonderful system of government, which is by and for the People.  The United States is not a democracy, but a constitutional republic.

Benjamin Franklin, upon leaving the Convention (which had been conducted in secrecy), was asked by a member of the public what kind of government he created.  Franklin famously replied, "A Republic, if you can keep it."  Franklin was right that it requires constant hard work by many citizens to preserve our wonderful system of government, which is by and for the People.  The United States is not a democracy, but a constitutional republic.  At the time most other countries were run by monarchies.

 

Next it was sent to the states for ratification, and then the "fun" began.  There was bitter opposition by the Anti-Federalists who did not like the idea of a powerful new central government.  Powerful Founders were among the anti-Federalists: Samuel Adams, George Mason, Patrick Henry, and John Hancock.

 

At the time, nearly every country in the world was a monarchy. The new American government was the first of its kind. 

The Constitution divides government into three separate branches that check and balance each other.  If one branch grabs too much power, then the other two can work to stop it.   

The Constitution divides government into three separate branches that check and balance each other.  If one branch grabs too much power, then the other two can work to stop it.   

The Articles of the new Constitution, as developed at the Constitutional Convention, are as follows:

In addition to its Preamble quoted above, the Articles of the Constitution are as follows:

:Congress (the legislative branch) is established in Article I of the Constitution.  The Executive Branch (led by the President) carries out the laws as provided in Article II.  The Judicial Branch (including the Supreme Court), established in Article III, interprets the laws.

:Congress (the legislative branch) is established in Article I of the Constitution.  The Executive Branch (led by the President) carries out the laws as provided in Article II.  The Judicial Branch (including the Supreme Court), established in Article III, interprets the laws.

The Constitution itself (before passage of the Bill of Rights adding the first ten amendments) contains several important protections of individual rights, including a right to a jury trial and a prohibition on any bill of attainder, which was a practice in England whereby the legislature would punish an individual by expressly and specifically naming him in legislation.  Under the Constitution, only courts can punish individual citizens.  Also, the Constitution banned nobility as exists in England, and spoke in terms of "citizens" in contrast to Britain, where the people were merely "subjects" of the King or Queen until 1948.

The Constitution itself (before passage of the Bill of Rights adding the first ten amendments) contains several important protections of individual rights, including a right to a jury trial and a prohibition on any bill of attainder, which was a practice in England whereby the legislature would punish an individual by expressly and specifically naming him in legislation.  Under the Constitution, only courts can punish individual citizens.  Also, the Constitution banned nobility as exists in England, and spoke in terms of "citizens" in contrast to Britain, where the people were merely "subjects" of the King or Queen until 1948.

Every state except Rhode Island held a ratifying convention to consider adopting it.  Many small states ratified the Constitution quickly (the first state to ratify it was Delaware), because they liked the idea of having equal representation in the Senate.  But bigger states, such as [[Massachusetts]], [Virginia]] and [[New York]], were more reluctant to give up their power to a national government.

The Constitution was then sent to the states to consider ratifying it.  Every state except Rhode Island held a ratifying convention to consider adopting it.  Many small states ratified the Constitution quickly (the first state to ratify it was Delaware), because they liked the idea of having equal representation in the Senate.  But bigger states, such as [[Massachusetts]], [Virginia]] and [[New York]], were more reluctant to give up their power to a national government.

The debate over ratification in the large states pitted the Federalists (for example, Alexander Hamilton) against the Anti-Federalists (for example, Patrick Henry, Samuel Adams, George Mason, and John Hancock).  Federalists supported the ratification of the Constitution.  The Anti-Federalists opposed it, primarily because it lacked the Bill of Rights.

The debate over ratification in the large states pitted the Federalists (for example, Alexander Hamilton) against the Anti-Federalists (for example, Patrick Henry, Samuel Adams, George Mason, and John Hancock).  Federalists supported the ratification of the Constitution.  The Anti-Federalists opposed it, primarily because it lacked the Bill of Rights but also because they disliked creating a powerful new central government.

Massachusetts became the sixth state to ratify the Constitution, but only by a narrow majority after the Anti-Federalists Samuel Adams and John Hancock negotiated a compromise (the "Massachusetts Compromise") guaranteeing that the new Congress would immediately consider amendments to establish a Bill of Rights.  Subsequently the remaining states also ratified it, many with the understanding that the Bill of Rights would be added to it.

Massachusetts became the sixth state to ratify the Constitution, but only by a narrow majority after the Anti-Federalists Samuel Adams and John Hancock negotiated a compromise (the "Massachusetts Compromise") guaranteeing that the new Congress would immediately consider amendments to establish a Bill of Rights.  Subsequently the remaining states also ratified it, many with the understanding that the Bill of Rights would be added to it.