Which statements accurately describe the constitutional convention of 1787?
Question: Which statements accurately describe the constitutional convention of 1787?
The Constitutional Convention of 1787 was a historic event that shaped the future of the United States. It was held in Philadelphia from May 25 to September 17, 1787, in the same building where the Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776. The purpose of the convention was to revise the Articles of Confederation, the first constitution of the United States, which had proven to be weak and ineffective. However, instead of amending the Articles, the delegates decided to create a new framework of government that would balance the interests of the large and small states, the federal and state governments, and the different regions of the country.
The convention was attended by 55 delegates from 12 states (Rhode Island did not send any representatives). Among them were some of the most prominent figures of the American Revolution, such as George Washington, who presided over the convention, Benjamin Franklin, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Dickinson. The delegates debated various plans and proposals for how to organize the new government, such as the Virginia Plan, which favored proportional representation based on population or wealth, and the New Jersey Plan, which favored equal representation for each state. They also faced difficult issues such as slavery, trade, taxation, and the election of the executive and judicial branches.
The convention produced a document that is widely regarded as a masterpiece of political science and constitutional law. The Constitution of the United States established a federal system of government with a separation of powers among three branches: the legislative branch (Congress), which makes the laws; the executive branch (the President), which enforces the laws; and the judicial branch (the Supreme Court), which interprets the laws. The Constitution also created a system of checks and balances that allows each branch to limit or influence the actions of the other branches. The Constitution also protects the rights and liberties of the people by limiting the powers of the federal government and by reserving some powers to the states and to the people.
The Constitution was signed by 39 delegates on September 17, 1787. It then had to be ratified by at least nine states before it could take effect. The ratification process sparked a fierce debate between the Federalists, who supported the Constitution, and the Anti-Federalists, who opposed it. The Federalists wrote a series of essays known as The Federalist Papers to explain and defend the Constitution. The Anti-Federalists also wrote essays and pamphlets to criticize and warn against the dangers of the Constitution. Some of their main concerns were that the Constitution gave too much power to the federal government, that it lacked a bill of rights to protect individual freedoms, and that it created a distant and aristocratic elite that would dominate the common people.
The ratification process lasted from 1787 to 1789. Delaware was the first state to ratify the Constitution on December 7, 1787. New Hampshire was the ninth state to ratify it on June 21, 1788, making it officially valid. However, some states refused to ratify it until a bill of rights was added. The first Congress proposed 12 amendments to address these concerns. Ten of them were ratified by three-fourths of the states and became known as the Bill of Rights. They were added to the Constitution in 1791. The other two amendments were not ratified until much later: one in 1992 (the Twenty-Seventh Amendment) and one still pending (the Congressional Apportionment Amendment).
The Constitutional Convention of 1787 was a remarkable achievement that laid the foundation for a stable and prosperous nation. It also inspired other countries to adopt similar forms of government based on democracy, republicanism, and federalism. The Constitution is still revered as a living document that can be amended and interpreted according to changing circumstances and needs. It is also still debated and contested by different groups and interests who seek to influence its meaning and application.
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