Just a few years after the Revolutionary War, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and George Washington feared their young country was on the brink of collapse. The Articles of Confederation, the governing document of the time, were weak and ineffective in unifying the states. The need for a stronger and more centralized government became apparent, leading to the drafting of the U.S. Constitution.
When was the Constitution written? The United States Constitution was written in 1787 during the Philadelphia Convention, now known as the Constitutional Convention. This gathering of delegates from the 13 states was convened to address the shortcomings of the Articles of Confederation and create a new framework for the government.
On September 17, 1787, a group of men gathered in a closed meeting room to sign the greatest vision of human freedom in history, the U.S. Constitution. This document laid out the principles of democracy, separation of powers, and individual rights that would shape the nation for centuries to come.
The main authors of the Constitution were James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay. These three men, known as the Federalists, played a crucial role in shaping the structure of the new government. Their ideas and debates during the Constitutional Convention helped to form the foundation of American democracy.
The day the Constitution was ratified marked a significant moment in American history. On June 21, 1788, the Constitution became the official framework of the government of the United States. It established the three branches of government – legislative, executive, and judicial – and outlined the powers and responsibilities of each.
'When a constitution is codified, we know what it says. Each organ of the state – the legislature, the executive, and the judiciary – has a clear set of rules and limitations to follow. This ensures a system of checks and balances that prevents any one branch from becoming too powerful.
In 2020, Chileans overwhelmingly supported writing a new constitution as a means of addressing social and political issues in the country. Two years later, Chileans overwhelmingly rejected the existing constitution in a referendum, paving the way for a new era of governance.
Sunday, Sept. 17 is Constitution Day — but what is it exactly? Jordan Cash, assistant professor of political theory and constitutional law, delves into the significance of this day and the enduring impact of the U.S. Constitution on American society.
