3b-history of the US constitution

A History of the US Constitution

The Declaration of Independence

The Articles of Confederation The Constitution of the United States

The Declaration of Independence

General

Written primarily by Thomas Jefferson Adopted by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776 Announcing that the thirteen American colonies then at war with Great Britain were now independent states, and thus no longer a part of the British Empire

Assertion of Natural Rights

‘We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness…’

The ‘Right of Revolution’

People have certain rights, and when a government violates these rights, the people have the right to ‘alter or abolish’ that government.

Significance

It did not create a government or even a framework for how politics would be carried out. However, it set forth the ideas of natural rights and the social contract that would help form the foundation of constitutional government.

The Articles of Confederation

General

Drafted November 15, 1777 Ratified March 1, 1781 Providing the necessary structure to the new nation during and after the American Revolution Setting the rules for operations of the US government

Weaknesses

The Articles gave too much power to the state governments and almost no power to the national government:

All amendments had to be ratified by each of the thirteen states. All important legislation needed the approval of at least nine states. Congress lacked authority to levy taxes.

Weaknesses

Congress had no authority to regulate foreign or interstate commerce. Congress could negotiate treaties with foreign powers, but all treaties had to be ratified by the states. There was no executive branch to enforce the laws nor a national court system to interpret them.

Mount Vernon Conference

General

Delegates from Virginia and Maryland met at George Washington's home at Mount Vernon, Virginia in March 1785. They were charged with dealing with issues of commerce, fishing, and navigation in the waters of the Potomac and Pocomoke Rivers and the Chesapeake Bay.

Result

The Mount Vernon Compact

It declared the Potomac to be a common waterway for use by both Maryland and Virginia. It also provided for reciprocal fishing rights, dividing the costs of constructing navigation aids, cooperation on defense and cases of piracy.

Result

It also called for commissioners to deal with any future problems that might arise.

Significance

The conference served as a model of interstate cooperation outside the framework of the weak Articles of Confederation. It was a precursor of the 1787 Philadelphia Convention that saw the drafting of the United States Constitution.