Page 95 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Washington, DC

PENN QU AR TER  93

The Constitution of the United States

In 1787, delegates from the 13 original of Congress. One of the main issues, how
American states convened in the city to elect the repre sentatives, was finally
of Phila delphia to redraft the Articles of deter mined to be by direct voting by
Confederation (see p20). It soon became the people. Once signed, the new
clear that an entirely new document was Constitution was sent to the states for
required, rather than a revised one. Weeks review. Federalists and anti-Federalists
of debate grew into months, as delegates debated fervently over its content in
drafted the framework for a new country. pamphlets, speeches, and articles.
Cooperation and compromise finally led In the end, the majority of states
to the creation of the Constitution, a ratified the Constitution, giving up
document that outlines the powers of some of their power in “order to form
the central government and the makeup a more perfect union.”

The Preamble of the Constitution of the United States
Signing of the Constitution
After many months of debate by the delegates to the
Federal Convention, the Constitution was completed
and signed by 39 of the 55 state delegates
on September 17, 1787, at Assembly
Hall in Philadelphia. The oldest
delegate was 81-year-old Benjamin
Franklin. James Madison, another
signatory, played a major role
in achieving the ratification of
the new Constitution during the
Signatures on the US Constitution two years after it was signed. James Madison

The Constitution Today
The seven articles of the Constitution (of which the
first three lay out the principles of government; see
pp30–31) still determine the laws of the United
States. In addition there are Amendments. The
first ten form the Bill of Rights, which includes
such famous issues as the right to bear arms
and the freedom of religion and of speech.

Swearing Allegiance
The pledge of
allegiance to the
flag was written in
1892 to mark the
400th anniversary of
Columbus’s discovery
of America. Today it
is recited by immigrants
taking up American Public Demonstration
citizenship and daily Citizens demonstrate their right to free speech
by schoolchildren. by protesting against the Gulf War.

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