WHERE THE DELEGATES GOT THEIR IDEAS Many of the ideas in the Constitution were not new. The delegates had examples from the past to study and to follow. They had studied the plans of government in England, in the colonies, and in the States. Englishmen had brought to America the English idea of the right to set up their own government. The State constitutions included that right. They declared that the citizens should have the right to control those who make the laws. The Fathers of the new Constitution liked the thought and copied it. The State constitutions contained many ideas on how a government should be organized. For example, all of the State constitutions divided the authority to govern among three branches-the legislative, executive, and judicial. All of the authority to govern was not placed in the hands of one branch. The legislative branch made the laws. The executive branch carried out the laws. The judicial branch settled quarrels over the meaning of laws. The Fathers of the Constitution copied this plan. They planned for a Congress to make the laws, for a President to enforce them, and for courts to settle quarrels as to the meaning of the laws. The delegates got some help from the Declaration of Independence. It had listed some of the purposes of government in a democracy. These purposes were copied into the opening sentences of the new Constitution. They also learned much from the Articles of Confederation. They had studied the Articles with care but they knew that the plan had not always worked well. Experience under the Articles caused the delegates to give the Central Government the authority to tax and to regulate trade among the States. Experience also caused them to give the Central Government authority to enforce the Constitution, the laws of the Congress, and the treaties. THINGS TO DO In the Declaration of f the purposes of gov purposes were copied ew Constitution. te Articles of Confedicles with care but they worked well. Experie delegates to give the y to tax and to regulate ence also caused them to thority to enforce the ongress, and the treaties. Choose the word or group of words that will make each of the following a correct statement: 1. The Articles of Confederation were (a) a plan for a strong Central Government. (b) a plan for State governments. (c) an early plan of government for the 13 free States. 2. One of the questions that the delegates to the Constitutional Convention had to answer was (a) how to take authority away from the Central Government. (b) how the large and the small States should be represented in the Congress. (c) how to spend the money of the States. 3. The Constitution of the United States was signed by (a) all members of the Constitutional Convention. 4. Experience under the Articles of Confederation proved that the thirteen States needed (a) a Central Government with more authority over the people. (b) a Central Government with less authority. (c) no Central Government. 5. The purpose of the Constitutional Convention was to (a) talk over the war they had won against the British. (b) agree to a treaty of peace with Great Britain. (c) change the plan of government for the Union. 6. The Constitutional Convention met in the city of(a) Boston. (b) Philadelphia. Questions to discuss in your study group: 1. Why was it hard for the Fathers of the Constitution to decide on a plan of government that the thirteen States would accept? 2. Name one of the compromises agreed upon by the Constitutional Convention that were written into the Constitution of the United States. Can you find examples in your life that show how compromises are made in order to serve some purpose of a group? 3. Who were some of the important men at the Constitutional Convention? Tell what some of them had done before they came to the Convention. 4. What were some of the reasons that caused the thirteen States to want to join together in a better Union? 5. Where did the Fathers of the Constitution get ideas. to use in writing the Constitution for the new Nation? What important idea did they copy from the State constitutions? onstitution e thirteen pon by the to the Conxamples in ade in order at the Consti hem had done hat caused the a better Union? itution get ideas the new Nation? from the State CHAPTER V Putting the New Government to Work "Let our object [purpose] be our country, our whole country, and nothing but our country." -Daniel Webster. The Constitutional Convention took only the first step in making a new Constitution. The delegates could not force the thirteen States to accept their work. They had been given authority to change the Articles of Confederation. But they had written a new Constitution. Would the people accept what they had done? The Constitutional Convention decided to get the opinion of the people. It asked each State to call a convention and to elect delegates to vote "yes" or "no" on the new Constitution. The delegates were to be chosen by the people because the government under the new Constitution was to be a government of the people. A new government should be organized when nine States had accepted the Constitution. THE CONSTITUTION GOES TO THE PEOPLE Each State government asked its people to send delegates to a State convention. A convention was held in each State. The delegates were to study the Constitution. They were to vote for or against it. Copies of the Constitution were printed in the newspapers. It was talked about at home and on the streets. The people seemed to like it. The businessmen wanted to trade in other States. They asked the delegates in their State conventions to accept the Constitution. But many people were not sure the Constitution was better than the Articles of Confederation. They said 33 that the President should be elected by a direct vote of the people. They did not want the President to appoint the judges of the Federal courts. Others said that the Constitution did not protect the rights of free speech and free press. They also said it did not guard their right to worship God as they pleased. The Fathers of the Constitution did not think that it was perfect. But those who signed it believed that it was better than the Articles of Confederation. They wanted the delegates in the State conventions to vote on it before any changes were made. So the Fathers of the Constitution went home to urge the State conventions to approve the Constitution. THE NEW CONSTITUTION IS ACCEPTED The convention in Delaware voted first. It accepted the new Constitution without a single vote of "no." Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Georgia were next. Then came Connecticut. The convention in Massachusetts wanted some changes made in order to protect the rights of the people. The other States agreed that the changes should be made later. Massachusetts then voted to come into the new Union. Maryland and South Carolina voted to accept the new Constitution. Early in the summer of 1788, the convention in New Hampshire approved it. That made nine States which had accepted the Constitution. Three of the largest States had not voted "yes." They were Virginia, New York, and North Carolina. Also, Rhode Island had voted not to accept. If these States voted "no," the Union would not be solid. North Carolina and Virginia separated Georgia and South Carolina from Delaware and Maryland, each of which had accepted the Constitution. Virginia wanted a bill of Rights added to the Constitution. The other States agreed that this would be added later. Virginia then entered the Union. |