Introduction
The events which led to the ratification of the constitution were the end of the revelation and opposition between the states, peace with Great Britain, and economic depression that affected all states. The revolution did not solve all problems but deepened social, political, and economic differences. In August 1786, Captain Shay started a rebellion against the authorities. When Madison became a member of the Revolutionary Congress in 1779, he had a clear understanding of the ethical, political, and constitutional issues which justified American independence. He expounded them in a notable state paper adopted by Congress in 1780 and continued to develop their full implications thereafter to strengthen the American claim to unhindered development and political incorporation of the territory ceded by Britain in 1783.
The first step to create a constitution was made in 1786 in Annapolis. The five states discussed the existing Article of the Confederation added some new articles to improve the trade (Kelly 87). By March 1787, Madison had developed the essentials of the constitutional reforms which he believed ought to be presented to the upcoming Convention. He tried to convince Jefferson that reform was necessary because the political situation was precarious. These changes would ensure its republican form by deriving the government’s authority from the people and distributing its powers among the three traditional branches (Fallon 43).
Main body
Virginia plan and New-Jersey plan developed the main issues and the structure of the future constitution. When the proposal to create a new Congress was introduced for debate at the Convention, Madison urged the delegates to create a national House of Representatives whose members would be treated following the so-called “equitable ratio” to make it analogous to the popular branches of the state legislatures. By this same analogy members of the House should be chosen directly and frequently by the voters (Kammen 19).
The Great Compromise and the Three Fifth Compromise agreed to some differences and promises of the future Construction. Special attention was paid to slavery and.possible solutions to this problem. Slavery, based on the mere difference of color, was a striking example of this truth. Opposition to the choice of senators by the popular branch of Congress was voiced by some delegates who claimed that this arrangement was intended to give preponderance to the “landed interest” in the Senate.
On this occasion, Madison demonstrated his determination to block any provisions which would give anyone interest full control of the reformed government at the expense of others. On the other hand, he failed thereafter to secure the adoption of any provisions likely to give each major interest a constitutional power of self-defense. The Constitution was ratified on September 17, 1787, and it was approached by nine states (Kelly 82). This event marked a new stage of development and national identity, a new wave of democratic freedoms and equal rights.
Conclusion
In sum, the events mentioned above show that the development and ratification of the Constitution was a complex and difficult process because of political diversity and the diverse economic interests of social classes. Madison developed his model of the constitution to secure the support of Framers like Pierce Butler of South Carolina who wanted slaves treated as secure property and counted as persons to be represented because their labor contributed greatly to the nation’s wealth; others like Elbridge Gerry and Governeur Morris who implored their fellow delegates to reject any provision.
Works Cited
Fallon, Richard H. The Dynamic Constitution: An Introduction to American Constitutional Law. Cambridge University Press, 2003.
Kammen, Michael. A Machine that Would Go of Itself: The Constitution in American Culture. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1991.
Kelly, A. H. et al. American Constitution: Its Origin and Development (American Constitution, Its Origins & Development). W. W. Norton & Company; 7 edition, 1990.