A History Lesson

What is the history behind the U.S. Constitution?

Do you know what the first constitution was called?

A _ _ _ c _ _ s of C _ _ f _ _ e _ _ t _ _ _

The Articles of Confederation. The first page of six of the Nation's first constitution was a confederation of 13 sovereign states bound loosely in a 'league of friendship' was created in 1781.

Click on this picture for the letters to appear.

The Articles of Confederation were ratified in 1781. However, many people had problems with how this document was worded. Click on the numbers to read about their issues.

	The Articles of Confederation did not provide a way for the government to get money. This meant soldiers were leaving the army because they weren't being paid.
	The debts, or money owed, to foreign governments were not being paid.
	The government was not strong under the Articles of Confederation.

Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.

PHILADELPHIA - JUN 27, 2014: Assembly Room in Independence Hall in old town Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. Both the Declaration of Independence and Constitution are signed in this room.

The Constitutional Convention met in 1787 to discuss what changes should be made to the Articles of Confederation. This convention took place in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, at Independence Hall, which is also where the Declaration of Independence was signed.

George Washington presiding at the Convention of 1787 to revise the Articles of Confederation, 1787

As George Washington presided over the convention, there was much debate over what the new constitution should say. Two competing plans were presented--the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey plan. The key difference between these two plans was representation. The Virginia Plan believed the states with more people should have more representation, and the New Jersey plan believed smaller states should have the same number of representatives.

The delegates came to what was called "the Great Compromise." This is how our system is set up today. The number of representatives in the House of Representatives is based on population, and each state has two senators in the Senate.

Gouverneur Morris

Who wrote the Preamble? Gouverneur Morris wrote the Preamble to the Constitution. This introduction sets up the intent of the Constitution.

James Madison

Who wrote the U.S. Constitution? James Madison is considered "the Father of the Constitution" because it was modeled after a document he wrote. Although many of his ideas are included in the Constitution, it was a group effort. Many people made contributions to the Constitution over several months.

Selective focus image of the United States Constitution with quill pen, glasses and candle holder

Benjamin Franklin was an important delegate, and George Washington was the president of the convention. The Committee of Detail was also important to the writing of the Constitution. These members included James Wilson, Oliver Ellsworth, John Rutledge, Nathaniel Gorham, and Edmund Randolph. Besides these, the members of the Committee of Style also played an important part in writing this document. These members included Alexander Hamilton, Rufus King, William Johnson, and Gouverneur Morris.

US flag with inscription United States of America, Delaware, Dover, December 7, 1787 on black background.

On September 17, 1787, the U.S. Constitution was finally accepted by the delegates at the convention. Then 9 of the 13 colonies had to sign the Constitution for it to be legal. On December 7, 1787, Delaware was the first to sign it. The ninth state to ratify the Constitution was New Hampshire on June 21, 1788.