The Constitution of the United States

The New Nation
Written By Tom Hand

The opening phrase of our Constitution’s preamble, “We the People,” spoke volumes regarding upon whose authority the Constitution rested and suggested the unanimity of country and purpose that this new Constitution would create. The document is a 4,543-word masterpiece of political thought that has stood the test of time and is the longest standing written constitution in the world.

Tom Hand, creator and publisher of Americana Corner, discusses our nation’s most important founding document, and why it still matters today.

Images courtesy of Library of Congress, National Archives, Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Wikipedia.

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The Constitution of the United States
The Constitution of the United States

The opening phrase of the preamble, “We the People,” spoke volumes regarding upon whose authority the Constitution rested and suggested the unanimity of country and purpose that this new Constitution would create. It was written by Gouverneur Morris, a delegate from New York, and his eloquent words speak for themselves. 

The Slavery Question at the Constitutional Convention
The Slavery Question at the Constitutional Convention

When delegates met at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in the summer of 1787, one of the most troublesome questions was what to do about slavery. Not whether it should be abolished, because even the most vehement abolitionist recognized this was neither the time nor the place for that fight. The issues to be decided were how would slaves be counted in the census and whether the states or the central government would control the institution, and what that control would look like. 

Key Debates at the Constitutional Convention
Key Debates at the Constitutional Convention

On May 29, 1787, Edmund Randolph, Governor of Virginia, rose and introduced fifteen resolutions to the Federal Convention. Known to history as the Virginia Resolves or the Virginia Plan, Randolph’s proposal, which was probably drafted by James Madison, was an outline for an entirely new national government. It called for a national executive, a two-house national legislature, and a national judiciary.

The Federal Convention Opens
The Federal Convention Opens

In the years immediately following the successful conclusion of its war for independence, the United States struggled to survive under the Articles of Confederation. The nation’s leaders knew something had to be done to fix its many issues for this great experiment in democracy to continue.

Ben Franklin’s Sage Advice Influences Constitutional Convention
Ben Franklin’s Sage Advice Influences Constitutional Convention

In 1785, Franklin, his work done in France, was recalled to America by Congress. He arrived in Philadelphia that September, revered as one of our nation’s greatest patriots. Despite his need for a well-deserved rest, he was kept continually busy receiving dignitaries, wrapping up loose ends from his eight-year diplomatic mission, and with what would prove to be one final opportunity to help his country.

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The Bill of Rights: The Tenth Amendment

The Tenth Amendment is one of the true foundational amendments of our Constitution. It reserves for the states all rights not granted to the national government by the Constitution, guaranteeing a federalist type of administration.

Beyond the Bill of Rights: Protections Extended by the Ninth Amendment
Beyond the Bill of Rights: Protections Extended by the Ninth Amendment

The Ninth Amendment is one of the two backbone amendments of our Constitution, the Tenth being the other one. It is the amendment that reserves for the people all rights not expressly granted to the government, whether those rights are enumerated or not.

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Avoiding the Stocks: How the Eighth Amendment Guarantees Humane Treatment, and Other Protections for the Criminally Accused

The Eighth Amendment helps make our criminal justice system more just for those accused or convicted of criminal behavior. It is comprised of three rights, each of which plays a part in protecting Americans from a harsh and overly ambitious government.

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Can the Court Serve as Judge and Jury? Not According to the Seventh Amendment

The Seventh Amendment formally established the rules governing civil trials, as opposed to criminal cases. Its main purpose was to distinguish between the responsibilities of the courts which decided the meaning of laws and those of juries which decided matters of facts as presented in a case.

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Have You Been Called to Jury Duty? See the Sixth Amendment in Action

The Sixth Amendment to our Constitution effectively established the procedures governing criminal courts. At its core, the Amendment ensures that those accused of crimes will get a fair trial and have every opportunity to clear their name.

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Innocent Until Proven Guilty: How the Fifth Amendment Protects You

The Fifth Amendment contains some of the most critical protections in the Constitution for those accused of crimes, safeguards that help keep a tyrannical government at bay. In total, it declares five separate but related rights to all citizens.

The Bill of Rights: The Fourth Amendment
The Bill of Rights: The Fourth Amendment

The Fourth Amendment is the fundamental basis for every American’s right to privacy. These freedoms are some of the most important granted to us by the Constitution, giving credence to the idea that “a man’s home is his castle”. As basic as these rights appears to us today, it was a relatively new concept prior to our Revolution.

The Bill of Rights: The Third Amendment
The Bill of Rights: The Third Amendment

This little-known amendment centered on a very important matter to our Founding Fathers, that of the people being forced against their will to house and feed soldiers and bear the costs. While this matter may seem trivial to us today, it was viewed quite differently in 1776.

The Bill of Rights: The Second Amendment
The Bill of Rights: The Second Amendment

The Second Amendment is corollary to one of the most basic natural rights we have, that of self-defense. However, it has recently been the subject of great controversy. Becoming familiar with the history of this doctrine is critical to understanding it.

The Bill of Rights: First Amendment - Assembly and Petitioning
The Bill of Rights: First Amendment - Assembly and Petitioning

Beyond the freedoms of religion and speech we previously discussed, there are two other equally important rights granted to the people in the First Amendment that receive less fanfare. These are the rights to peaceably assemble and to petition the government to correct a wrong.

The Bill of Rights: First Amendment - Speech
The Bill of Rights: First Amendment - Speech

The First Amendment clause forbidding Congress from “abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press” essentially means we can say and print what we want, to include making negative comments about the government. Prior to our Bill of Rights, this concept was unheard of.

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The Bill of Rights: First Amendment - Religion

The First Amendment is arguably the most important one in the Constitution, as it encompasses six essential rights. It covers everything from religious matters to what we can say to how we can pursue grievances against the government.

The Bill of Rights: Debate
The Bill of Rights: Debate

Soon after the proposed Constitution was circulated to the state legislatures for approval, it came under criticism for several supposed faults, but primarily for its lack of a bill of rights. The group opposing the new Constitution became known as “Anti-Federalists” and were led by George Mason of Virginia and Elbridge Gerry of Massachusetts.

The Bill of Rights: Background
The Bill of Rights: Background

The first ten amendments to the Constitution, better known as the Bill of Rights, are what allow us to enjoy many of the day to day blessings of our great country. Freedoms easily taken for granted are enshrined in these revisions to the original document. While the Constitution shaped our government; the Bill of Rights shaped our lives.

Creating the Constitution: Slavery
Creating the Constitution: Slavery

When the Founders met in Philadelphia in the summer of 1787 to frame a new form of government, one of the most troublesome questions was what to do about slavery. To understand their dilemma, we must first consider the world view of it at the time and the practical issues associated with its abolition in the United States.

Creating the Constitution: Representation in Congress
Creating the Constitution: Representation in Congress

The Constitutional Convention was arguably the most important meeting in our nation’s history. It was there our Founders framed the revolutionary form of government that was to shape America, as well as many other nations around the globe. But it was not without its detractors and disagreements.

Creating the Constitution: The Executive
Creating the Constitution: The Executive

One of the major defects in the Articles of Confederation was the lack of an executive, that single individual who was to some degree in charge of the nation. When the Constitutional Convention met in Philadelphia in the summer of 1787, this flaw was addressed and the amount of authority to be vested in the office was a major point of contention.

Creating the Constitution: Electoral College
Creating the Constitution: Electoral College

The Electoral College was an idea created by our Founders at the Constitutional Convention in 1787 detailing how our country would elect the President of the United States. Although some consider it a relic from the past, our Founders put a lot of thought into this electoral system and the rationale behind it is sound.

Creating the Constitution: Overview
Creating the Constitution: Overview

The United States Constitution is arguably the most important legislative document ever written. It has not only shaped our great country, but also influenced many other democracies around the world.

Tom Hand
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