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Constitution Drafting and Implementation
Events During The Constitution Drafting and Implementation
- 03/01/1781: The Articles of Confederation, the first governing document of the United States, was ratified. The final draft was completed in November, 1777, but required the ratification of all 13 colonies. Many of the colonies held out for a variety of reasons. Maryland was the last to ratify it, over three years later, because of its disagreement of land claims by New York and Virginia in the Ohio Valley. Virginia was the first colony to sign it. It was eventually replaced by the Constitution, officially in 1789.
- 03/04/1789: The United States officially replaced the Articles of Confederation with the new United States Constitution. The Articles of Confederation had governed the U.S. from 1781 to 1789. The Constitution was actually completed in 1787, however, it took time for sufficient states to ratify it, as well as to plan the transition.
- 04/30/1789: George Washington was sworn in as the first President of the United States of America.
- 12/15/1791: The Bill of Rights were enacted. They are the first ten amendments to the Constitution, and ensure the "natural rights" of citizens.
- 02/07/1795: The 11th amendment was ratified, which provides immunity of states from suits from out-of-state citizens and foreign not living within the state boarders.
- 06/15/1804: Presidential election procedures were modified when the 12th amendment was ratified. The principle change provided for the Vice President to be elected by the Electoral College. Previously, the Vice President was simply the runner-up of the Presidential election.
- 12/06/1865: Slavery was abolished by the 13th amendment.
- 07/09/1868: The 14th amendment was ratified, ensuring equal protection under the law to all citizens. Specifically, this amendment required Southern states to have just one book of laws, and not one for whites and one for blacks.
- 02/03/1870: 15th amendment ratified, granting voting rights regardless of race.
- 02/03/1913: Federal income tax were born with the passage of the 16th amendment
- 04/08/1913: The 17th amendment was ratified which altered the election process to the way it is today, allowing for two Senators per state, with each having their own vote in the Senate.
- 01/16/1919: Prohibition of alcohol started, as the 18th amendment was ratified.
- 08/18/1920: 19th amendment ratified, granting voting rights regardless of gender.
- 01/23/1933: The 20th amendment passed, which shifted the start date of new Presidents from March 4th to January 20th, and set the Term Commencement for congress to January 3rd.
- 12/05/1933: The 21st amendment was ratified, which revoked the 18th amendment, thus ending the prohibition of alcohol in the U.S.
- 02/27/1951: Presidents were limited to two-term maximums by the passage of the 22nd amendment.
- 03/29/1961: The 23rd amendment passed, allowing for representation of Washington, D.C. in the Electoral College. Washington, D.C. is allowed the same number of electors it would have if it was a state, except it is not allowed to have more electors than the least populous state.
- 01/23/1964: The passage of the 24th amendment outlawed poll taxes.
- 02/23/1967: Provisions were added to the Constitution via the 25th amendment to provide for various scenarios of presidential incapacities.
- 07/01/1971: 26th amendment ratified, granting voting rights to all citizens over the age of 18.
- 05/07/1992: The 27th amendment passed, establishing that any law that congress passes varying its own compensation cannot be enacted until after an election.
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