Our First Government 1776-1787

The following article is extracted from the National Society DAR website, www.dar.org.

The Constitution of the United States of America wasn’t created quickly. Colonists has been in America for well over 150 years, living under British rule, before demands from the monarchy led to the Declaration of Independence. A war was fought and won. Self-government was on rocky ground. Determination to maintain liberties and self-rule was strong.

After the Declaration of Independence made us a new nation, some new type of government had to be set up. What resulted was a loose friendship among the states called “The Articles of Confederation.” It is easy to understand that the states felt like they were more important than the nation as a whole, and this attitude is reflected in the Articles. 

The following is a summary list of the weaknesses found in this first government of ours: •There was no chief executive or even a permanent national capital • There were no federal courts. • There was no national currency. • Each state printed its own money and decided its value. • There was a one house Congress that had very little, if any, authority. • Congress could ask for taxes, but had no way to actually collect them. • They couldn’t even afford to pay for the small, three hundred man army and couldn’t defend the country in case of war. • Congress had to depend on State Militias when disturbances like Shay’s Rebellion had to be put down. • The best lawmakers stayed in the State Legislatures and many of the Congressmen failed to attend on a regular basis. • Congressmen received no pay except what was doled out to them by their own states. • There were no trade regulations. • All thirteen states had to approve any amendment to the “Articles of Confederation.” By 1787, things had gotten so bad that the important men of the day decided that something had to be done. 

 The Constitutional Convention took place from May 14 to September 17, 1787, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The purpose was to decide how America was to be governed. A quorum of seven states was needed before the Convention could convene. George Washington was elected President of the Convention and would open the proceeding each morning at ten o’clock.  Secrecy was an absolute necessity. The delegates didn’t want the newspapers of the day or the general population to know what they were doing. This way they could all speak their minds and give true opinions. Sentries were placed at the State House doors and no one was allowed to copy the day’s journal without permission.  Each state had one vote in the Constitution Convention regardless of how many delegates they had. The majority of the delegation ruled and if there was a tie in the delegation the vote wouldn’t count. The Committee of the Whole would be turned back over to George Washington who adjourned the session at four o’clock each afternoon.

On September 17, 1787, a new Constitution was presented to the States for ratification. It’s opening statement is widely known as the Preamble.

The Preamble is a concise proclamation of the values at work in the complete document. This statement gives American citizens, not the government, the power of rule. 

The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution and  over 3,000 Local Chapters celebrate Constitution Week every September 17-23. Schools, libraries, and other groups are encouraged to use this week as an educational tool for children and adults to learn more about the formation of our government. Please visit your local library or historical association, or a simple Google search will provide much information and interesting highlights about our Constitution and how it became the rule of law in the United States.