The Franklin Mint History Of The United States, 1776-1973
Manufacturer
The Franklin Mint
CultureAmerican
DateNo Date
MediumSilver
DimensionsOverall: 1 3/4 in. (45 mm.)
Credit LineGift of Dr. Eugene F. Poutasse
Object number76.81.13
Not on view
DescriptionOne of collection of 200 silver medals.The 1788 medal: United States Constitution Ratified
After the Constitution was approved, the delegates returned home to sell it to the people. Most delegates represented private economic interests determined to make the nation safe from unlimited democracy that might devolve into anarchy. "The people," said Roger Sherman, "should have as little to do as may be with government." Through compromises the end result was a "mixed" federal and national government, with legislative, executive and judiciary branches operating under checks and balances.
The Virginia Plan advocated that voters of each state select representatives to a lower house, which would then choose members for an upper house. This meant that the richer and more populous states would control the government. The New Jersy Plan countered with one vote for each state. As finally compromised, the members of one house were determined by population and elected directly, the other house was elceted by the legislature of each state (later changed by the 17th Amendment). A compromise was made on slaves on the southern states -
three-fifths were counted in determining representation. The North would have prohibited slavery either entirely but another compromise had to be made in order to obtain the power to impose tarrifs and regegulate commerce; slave importation was allowed for 20 years (Afticle 1, Section 9), and to protect southern crops, no taxes could be imposed on exports. As a result, the United States is almost the only nation today without export duties.
The Articles of Confederation, still in force, required that any changes in government have the unanimous vote of the thirteen states. To get around this, the Consitiution used the "illegal" stratagem of requiring ratification by only nice states (Article VII). Deleware was the first to ratify on December 7, 1787, and New Hampshire was the ninth on June 21, 1788, placing the Constitution in operation. Rhode Island which had not sent delegates to the Constitutional Convention, did not ratify until May 29, 1790, over a year after Washington became President.
