The Making of the Constitution.

Authors Avatar

                Note

Amanda Note

December 23, 2003

Period : C

The Making of the Constitution

        The Constitution of the United States, the fundamental law of the United States of America. Drafted by the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, Pa., between May 25 and Sept. 17, 1787, it is the world's oldest written constitution still in effect. The document presents a set of general principles out of which implementing statutes and codes have emerged. As such, it embodies the essence of constitutionality--that government must be confined by the rule of law. The House of Representatives, Congress, The President and Vice President were executive powers outlined in key sections within the Constitution. These people represented all of the colonies together as one, the United States of America.

The convention delegates agreed that a new constitution was needed. However, many controversies had to be resolved before one could be drafted. A basic issue was the extent of powers to be granted to the national government, and a major obstacle was the conflicting interests of large and small states.

Before the Constitution of the United States was laid out and written on a piece of paper it’s ideas and values were edified in the Articles of the Confederation which was ratified on March 1, 1781.  The Articles of the Confederation was a unifying document for the existing colonies. However, unified leadership was not identified yet.

                On the third of September in 1783 the Treaty of Paris was signed marking the end of the Revolutionary War.  The Treaty of Paris was an agreement to make peace between France and The United States of America. This treaty aloud for the two entities to forget past misunderstandings, and differences that have unhappily interrupted the good correspondence and friendship which they mutually wish to restore, and to establish a beneficial and satisfactory intercourse between the two countries.

        On September the 11th in 1786 the political convention was concerned and alarmed of the growing instability under the Articles of Confederation, they then requested a new constitutional convention. Following this request the Constitutional Congress authorizes a convention for the explicit purpose of revising the Articles of Confederation, on February 21, 1787.

Join now!

          Then on May 25, 1787, The Constitutional Convention begins with a quorum of 29 delegates from seven states. Robert Morris of Philadelphia nominates George Washington as president of the convention.  The convention delegates agreed that a new constitution was needed. However, many controversies had to be resolved before one could be drafted. A basic issue was the extent of powers to be granted to the national government, and a major obstacle was the conflicting interests of large and small states.

On May 28, 1787, Pierce Butler of South Carolina proposes that deliberations be in secret, so delegates can speak ...

This is a preview of the whole essay