As we observe Constitution Week, Sept. 17-23, the Poplar Bluff Chapter National Society Daughters of the American Revolution wishes to share the following articles as a reminder of how important our nation’s constitution is. Materials come from NSDAR resources.
__Day one: A work in progress__
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. In four short years, we will be celebrating the 250th Anniversary of America’s Independence. Ever wonder where these United States would be without our Constitution? Would we be celebrating our Semiquincentennial?
The Articles of Confederation 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.” Much of this was actually written in York, Pennsylvania, and you can see the original displayed there today. 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. They didn’t even capitalize The United States, but used lower case letters when writing about them. 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. After getting George Washington to promise he would be a delegate, an invitation was sent to the thirteen states to a Convention to be held in Philadelphia to amend “The Articles of Confederation.” Rhode Island was the only state that did not send a delegation.