The period between 1777 through to 1791 proved significant to the US history owing to the various constitutional changes that shaped the constitution to be what it is today. The meetings and discussions of the Continental Congress realized the need to created written rules. The result was the Articles of Confederation that was drafted and passed by the Continental Congress on 11th November, 1777. The Article of Confederation created the functions of the national government (US Department of State - Office of the Historian). However, the article created a weak central government that prevented most individual states from exercising their foreign diplomacies. Most delegates in the Congress believed the articles were a flawed negotiation. However, the delegates thought it was better to have a set of clearly defined rules than have none.
Many states began ratifying the article with Virginia leading the pack on December 16, 1777. The move by the state of Virginia prompted other states to make changes to the articles. However, when congress met again in June, 1778, three states, namely; New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland had not ratified the Articles. The Articles needed the collective approval by all states to become adequately sufficient. On further deliberations, the states of Delaware and New Jersey eventually agreed to the provisions of the Articles. New Jersey made its changes on November 20, 1778 while Delaware on February 1, 1779. However, Maryland still felt they needed further deliberations before making a compromise (US Department of State - Office of the Historian).
The progress of the Articles was slowed by the fears of having a stronger central authority and the extensive land claims. The Articles also created a sovereign, national government that limited the rights of the states to practice their foreign policy and diplomacy. However, the Articles failed to give authority to the central government to regulate commerce and levy taxes. Consequently, the thorny issues created by the Articles led to the Constitution Convention of 1787.
The Constitutional Convention was the mother of the current federal laws. The 100-day debate proved to be the most momentous events in the US Constitutional history. The events of the convention led to the creation of a true constitutional republic the USA is today. The conference was convened in Philadelphia in May 14 to September 17, 1787, with the principal objective of amending the Articles of Confederation. The representatives included key figures in the US history at that time. Among them were Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, James Madison, and John Rutledge among others. George Washington was elected to chair the convention (US Department of State - Office of the Historian). Even though the meeting was meant to make changes to the existing Articles of Confederation, other delegates had bigger plans. Other delegates thought it wise to craft a new government rather than fix the dysfunctional one.
The Convention began in earnest with schemes of crafting a new system of government. However, divisions among the delegates resulted with delegates from states considered smaller opposing delegates from larger states. The Virginia plan offer by the Edmund Randolph-led team created a bicameral legislature where each state would be represented based on wealth or population. The William Patterson-led team came up with the New Jersey plan that required equal representation in Congress. Both sides failed to agree on the best proposal. However, a group of delegates led by Oliver Ellsworth came up with a bicameral legislature that would guarantee equal representation in both the lower and upper house. All the delegates agreed with the new proposal, and the decision was approved on July 16. Hence, after the agreement, The US Constitution was formally adopted on September 17, 1787. The passing of the constitution created a paradigm shift from the old order of government to the new order. In 1788, nine states made changes to the new Constitution. One year later, the new constitution welcomed George Washington as the first US President. Most importantly, on December 15, 1791, the US Constitution adopted the first ten amendments that formed part of the Bill of Rights (US Department of State - Office of the Historian).
Works Cited
US Department of State - Office of the Historian. "Constitutional Convention and Ratification, 1787–1789 1784–1800 Milestones Office of the Historian." US Department of State - Office of the Historian. N.p., n.d. Web. 8 Dec. 2014. <https://history.state.gov/milestones/1784-1800/convention-and-ratification>.
US Department of State - Office of the Historian. "Articles of Confederation, 1777–1781 1776–1783 Milestones Office of the Historian." US Department of State - Office of the Historian. N.p., n.d. Web. 8 Dec. 2014. <https://history.state.gov/milestones/1776-1783/articles>.
