Unit 1
The Writing of Our Constitution
In the years before the American Revolution,
which began in 1775, this country had no written
constitution. Each of the thirteen colonies had its
own charter and some degree of self-government,
but all of the colonies belonged to England.
When the English Pariiament began to pass laws
taxing the American colonists and taking away
their rights, the colonies took action.
The First Continental Congress. In 1774, all
of
the
colonies
except
Georgia
sent
representatives to the First Continental Congress
which was meeting in Philadelphia. Its purpose
was to discuss colonial grievances and to decide
what steps to take against England.
The Second Continental Congress. When
the war between England and the colonies began
in 1775, delegates to the Second Continental
Congress met in Philadelphia. There, in 1776,
they issued the Declaration of Independence.
The colonies were now thirteen independent
states fighting for their freedom from England.
Each new state had its own written constitution,
but there was no national constitution governing
all the states. The following year, however, the
Second Continental Congress proposed the
Articles of Confederation. This was a plan to
unite the new states under the name of the United
States of America. In 1781, after it had been
accepted by al the states, the plan went into
effect. The war, meanwhile, continued.
The Articles of Confederation.
The new
Congress, as set up by the articles of
Confederation, had little power. Although it could
pass laws, it could not enforce them. Congress
could raise an army and choose its commander
but could not raise the money needed to pay the
army. Since the power to tax the people was left
to the states. Congress had to ask the states for
money. Congress had no way of forcing the
states to supply the money it needed to meet its
expenses. Thus, during the years from 1781 to
1789, the Congress was deeply in debt.
Congress also lacked the power to regulate
interstate commerce, or trade between the states.
As a result, some states were taxing goods from
other states. New York, for example, taxed goods
that New Jersey sold in New York.
Maryland
taxed Virginia ships sailing on the Potomac. As a
result of all of these problems, many people felt
that the Articles of Confederation should be
changed to give the national government more
power.
The Constitutional Convention. The peace
treaty with England was finally signed in 1783.
Four years later, in the summer of 1787, all the
states except Rhode island sent delegates to a
meeting in Philadelphia. This meeting was being
held for the purpose of changing the Article of
Confederation. Instead of revising the Articles,
however, the delegates decided to draw up a new
plan of government. After weeks of meetings and
secret debates, the new plan emerged. This was
the Constitution of the United States.
The newly written Constitution was then sent to
the states for their approval. By the end of 1788,
all but two states had ratified, or accepted, the
new Constitution.
George Washington, the
nation's first President, took office in the spring of
1789. The Constitution has been in effect ever
since, it was then, and is now, the supreme law
of our land.
George Washington, president of the Constitutional
Convention, was elected the first President of the
United States.
ACTIVITY PAGE
A. True or False
In the space at the left, write T if the statement is tme or F if it is false.
1. In 1775, this country had no written constitution.
2. All the colonies were represented at the First Continental Congress.
3. The members of the Second Continental Congress wanted to make one nation of
the thirteen states.
4. Congress, under the Articles of Confederation, had the power to tax the people.
5. During the years from 1781 to 1789, many people believed that the national congress
had too much power.
6. The delegates to the Constitutional Convention decided not to revise the Articles of
Confederation.
7. The Constitution is the supreme law of our land.
B. Words to Know
In the space at the left, write the letter of the term that best fits the definition.
1. a plan to unite the thirteen states
a. constitution
2. to accept or approve
b. interstate commerce
3. a plan of government
c. ratify
4. the meeting held to draw up our Constitution
d. First Continental Congress
5. the meeting held by the colonies to discuss their
grievances against England.
e. Second Continental Congress
6. trade between the states
f.
7. issued the Declaration of Independence and
wrote the Articles of Confederation.
g. Constitution Convention
Articles of Confederation
C. Points to Discuss
1.
Explain why the years between 1781 and 1789 are sometimes call the "critical period" in American
history.
2.
Explain why the Articles of Confederation did not help to unite the thirteen states into one nation.
D. Things to Do
1.
After consulting your history book or an encyclopedia, write a paragraph on the accomplishments and
failures of Congress under the Articles of Confederation.
2.
Give a talk on one of the leaders of the Constitutional Convention.
3.
Prepare a speech explaining what would happen if states today had the power to tax goods coming in
from other states.