The US Constitution: The History Of The American Constitution

1156 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: The creation of the american constitution

The U.S. Constitution has a unique history. Facing drafts and ratifications it was finally created under the founding fathers in 1787. The constitution is the foundation for the government we have today and influences almost every decision that government officials make. However, before the constitution was influencing, it was influenced. The political, economic, and diplomatic crises of the 1780s not only helped shape America, but also the provisions found the constitution. The creation of our nation and its constitution cost our ancestors not only their lives, but also their money and a few rebellions. Some of the major political crises that shaped the provisions in the constitution were debt, currency decisions and Shays’s Rebellion. After the war was over America had found itself in tremendous debt because of war bonds and overseas debts. With all of these due to be paid back soon, America found itself hurting. To make matters worse the government had no power to tax and had to ask the states for government. Then because the power to tax was held by states and …show more content…

The most lasting effect of this rebellion is best shown in Article 1, Section 8. In this section it states “The Congress shall have Power to lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defense and general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States…”. This has Shays’s rebellion written all over it. Because of the unfair taxing against the farmers, they have written that all duties, imposts and excises will be equal for everyone. It also states “To coin Money, regulate the Value thereof, . . . and fix the Standard of Weights and Measures;”. This also address the issue of the farmers wanting paper money to increase the money

Show More
Related

  • Second Continental Congress Dbq

    551 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Shays Rebellion were series of protests in 1786 and 1787 by American farmers. However, protests began before Shays Rebellion, the Massachusetts protest convention, circa of 1780 is a prime example of this, “...The great men are going to get all we have and I think it is time for us to rise and put a stop to it, and have no more courts, nor sheriffs, nor collectors nor lawyers....”.(B) Many farmers in this area suffered from high debt as they tried to start new farms. Unlike many other state legislatures in the 1780s, the Massachusetts government didn't respond to the economic crisis . As a result local sheriffs seized many farms and some farmers who couldn't pay their debts were put in prison.These conditions led to the first major armed rebellion in the post-Revolutionary United States called Shays Rebellion. Anti-Federalist were primality poor uneducated farmers. An exception of a the poor Anti Federalist stereotype is George Mason, whom is a huge political influence of the Bill of Rights, exploits his ideology in his Virginia Bill of Rights “That

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Miracle At Philadelphia

    837 Words  | 2 Pages

    After claiming independence from Great Britain, America had a tremulous start with thirteen states governing themselves using the Articles of Confederation and therefore not united under one whole government that set and regulated tax and commerce. With the states usually arguing and not providing financial support to the government, Shay’s Rebellion had begun in Massachusetts, urged by farmers, in protest of the tax collections and economic chaos. Without the political unrest caused by that one event, the future of America would have turned out differently; it would likely have been that the states would have plunged into massive debt and lost the freedoms achieved after the American Revolution. Afterwards, people had urged the creation of an effective government to support them, thus creating the Constitutional Convention. At the Convention, fifty-five delega...

    Read More

  • Articles of Confederation Remedied by The Constitution

    1723 Words  | 4 Pages

    The year of 1776 was a time of revolution, independence, and patriotism. American colonists had severed their umbilical cord to the Mother Country and declared themselves “Free and Independent States”.1 The chains of monarchy had been thrown off and a new government was formed. Shying away from a totalitarian government, the Second Continental Congress drafted a document called the Articles of Confederation which established a loose union of the states. It was an attempt at self-government that ended in failure. The Articles of Confederation had many defects which included a weak central government that lacked the power to tax, regulate trade, required equal representation and a unanimous vote to amend the Articles, and had only a legislative branch. As a result the United States lacked respect from foreign countries. These flaws were so severe that a new government had to be drafted and as a result the Constitution was born. This document remedied the weak points of the federal government and created one that was strong and fair, yet still governed by the people.

    Read More

  • Creation of the United States Constitution

    1236 Words  | 3 Pages

    The Articles of Confederation was America’s first constitution. The Articles of Confederation failed to create a strong central government, however. With the demise of the states in sight, the need for a stronger and more structured central government became apparent. An invitation was sent to all thirteen states in February 1787 by the Confederation Congress to resolve the matter. The events that took place over the next several months would create the United States Constitution. Going down in history as a revolutionary form of government, the U.S. Constitution would give life to a country that is still running strong over 200 years later.

    Read More

  • The Ripple Effects of Shay's Rebellion

    841 Words  | 2 Pages

    When a group rises up for what they believe in, it can have incredible results. Sometimes those results can even have rippling effects that have the power to create one of the strongest nations on Earth. Shays’ Rebellion was one of those defining moments and without it this country may have crumbled long ago.

    Read More

  • Similarities Between The Constitution And Texas Constitution

    651 Words  | 2 Pages

    The U.S. Constitution was completed on September 17, 1789 and has served as a model for the constitutions of many other nations. The constitution of the United States of America is the oldest written national constitution in use and consists of twenty-seven amendments.

    Read More

  • The Constitution Dbq

    687 Words  | 2 Pages

    The constitution was a document that embodies the fundamental laws and principles by which the U.S is governed. The constitution states basic rights for its citizens. Delegates signed the constitution on September 17, 1787. There is a total of 27 constitutional amendments. The reasoning for writing it was for a stronger federal government - legislative, executive and judicial. The constitution was a break with a past of ‘unfair’ taxes, wars and ‘unfair’ treatment.

    Read More

  • The Articles of Confederation and the US Constitution

    1052 Words  | 3 Pages

    The Articles of Confederation was the United States first attempt at creating a democratic government. Instead of giving power to the central government they divided it up among the states (Kelly). This fact left the Articles with many weaknesses that ultimately led it to fail. The lack of a strong central government led to economic disorganization, no central leadership and an ineffective legislative, all which led to its downfall (Brackemyre). Leaving power to the states left the nation in a state of economic disorganization. Without the national government having the power to levy taxes, it was left with the states (Murphy). The legislature only had the right to request taxes, and it was left up to the states how they wanted to raise them, but they oftentimes weren't (Brackemyre). There was also no uniform system of currency which made trade between states difficult. The fact that states instead of Congress regulated trade led to a lack...

    Read More

  • Effects Of The Naturalization Act Of 1790

    729 Words  | 2 Pages

    Over the following decade following the Declaration of Independence, the appointed leaders created the U.S. Constitution (1787), which established America’s national government and fundamental laws, and guaranteed certain basic rights for its citizens (History.com).

    Read More

  • Unruly Americans: Citizen Influence on the Constitution

    1292 Words  | 3 Pages

    My interpretation of the purpose of Holton’s Unruly American’s in general is that he wanted to convey a more accurate understanding of the development of the United States constitution, as appose to other perspectives that focus mainly on the framers. The constitution wasn’t just developed by the framers alone; it was heavily influenced by the many average American citizens during this time. Influences such as public demonstrations of outrage due to taxation as well as the influence of debt generated by farmers that couldn’t financially maintain themselves due to the country’s poor infrastructure. Holton also informed his readers about the importance of the creation of the Bill of Rights. All of the following events helped shape the constitution

    Read More

  • The Whiskey Rebellion: Cause, And After The American Revolution

    1569 Words  | 4 Pages

    As the American Revolution ended and Americans freed themselves from the British, many Americans were left without money. After the American Revolution was won, the Founding Fathers including John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison and lastly our first president George Washington helped create a new government, the Articles of Confederation. The Articles of Confederation were the first national government. This government had plenty of weaknesses, such as the need for unanimous votes, no direct power to tax, no ability to raise troops, and they were hard to amend. Along with those weaknesses came several rebellions

    Read More

  • The US Constitution

    1697 Words  | 4 Pages

    The plan to divide the government into three branches was proposed by James Madison, at the Constitutional Convention of 1787. He modeled the division from who he referred to as ‘the Perfect Governor,’ as he read Isaiah 33:22; “For the Lord is our judge, the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is our king; He will save us.” http://www.eadshome.com/QuotesoftheFounders.htm

    Read More

  • The Making of the Constitution

    1453 Words  | 3 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Has the U.S. Lived up to its Founding Principles?

    1300 Words  | 3 Pages

    A constitution is the system of fundamental principles according to which a nation is governed. Our founding fathers created the US Constitution to set specific standards for our country. We must ask ourselves why our founding fathers created the Constitution in the first place. America revolted against the British due to their monarchy form of government. After the American Revolution, each of the original 13 colonies operated under its own rules of government. Most states were against any form of centralized rule from the government. They feared that what happened in England would happen again. They decided to write the Articles of Confederation, which was ratified in 1781. It was not effective and it led to many problems. The central government could not regulate commerce between states, deal with foreign governments or settle disputes. The country was falling apart at its seams. The central government could not provide assistance to the state because there wasn’t a central army. When they realized that the Articles of Confederation was not up to par, they held a convention, known as the Constitutional Convention of 1787. As a result of t...

    Read More

  • Failure Of Constitution

    1049 Words  | 3 Pages

    The United States Constitution is a very important document as it keeps America's government stable and the rules firm, but it did not just come from nowhere. It was written at the Constitutional Convention in 1787. There were historical events that led up to and helped the document be written. In the past, colonists have been treated unfairly by the British, the failure of the Articles of Confederation, and the British influences have heavily influenced writers of the Constitution. Overall, the failures of the Articles of Confederation, colonial experiences, and British influences all influenced the writers of the Constitution.

    Read More

More about The US Constitution: The History Of The American Constitution

Open Document