Happy (belated) Birthday, U.S.

[Alferd_Packer]

Happy Constitution day. Last Friday, was The anniversary of the adaptation of the U.S. Constitution. (in 1788, Massachusetts became the 6th state to ratify the document, making it official)

In reality, this is the anniversary of the founding of this country, not July 4th.

We are 222 years old.

[r0ast_p0tat0es]

In reality, this is the anniversary of the founding of this country, not July 4th.

I'm not entirely sure what legal principle you're basing that on... But happy Constitution Day regardless. :p I hope it doesn't end up revering something as mythical as Santa Claus.

[KingMerv00]

In reality, this is the anniversary of the founding of this country, not July 4th.

There was a country before the constitution, it's just that the Articles of Confederation sucked.

[Newtons Bit]

There was a country before the constitution, it's just that the Articles of Confederation sucked.

I think we need an word stronger than "sucked" here. Any ideas?

[Skeptic Guy]

"Blew"?

[WildCat]

I think we need an word stronger than "sucked" here. Any ideas?
Articles of Confederation resulted in Libertopia.

[quadraginta]

Happy Constitution day. Last Friday, was The anniversary of the adaptation of the U.S. Constitution. (in 1788, Massachusetts became the 6th state to ratify the document, making it official)

In reality, this is the anniversary of the founding of this country, not July 4th.

We are 222 years old.

I'm not entirely sure what legal principle you're basing that on... But happy Constitution Day regardless. :p I hope it doesn't end up revering something as mythical as Santa Claus.


Until it had been ratified by a required number of the states the document was not formally an instrument of law. This is similar to the requirement that an amendment to the Constitution is not in effect until the required number of states have ratified it. The Constitution was signed by representatives of the various colonies on 9/17/1787, but those signatures were not endorsed by the states themselves on that day.

I'm not sure what is significant about Massachusetts' ratification, as the requirement set by the Convention was for nine states to ratify, which would have confirmed the document on 6/21/1788, when New Hampshire ratified it. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/US_Constitution#Ratification)


Once the Congress of the Confederation received word of New Hampshire's ratification, it set a timetable for the start of operations under the new Constitution, and on March 4, 1789, the government (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_government_of_the_United_States) began operations.
I guess it is important in Massachusetts. :)

The tardy party, Rhode Island, made it unanimous 5/29/1790.

[r0ast_p0tat0es]

A state is not established by the administrative laws which constrain and delimit its government. A codified constitution is incidental to the existence of a sovereign state. The United States was recognised before the Constitution was ratified, and it would continue to be legally recognised if the government went tin-pot overnight and rewrote it entirely.

[willhaven]

Articles of Confederation resulted in Libertopia.How so?

[KingMerv00]

How so?

I don't think Libertopia is the right word. It resulted in an Anti-Federotopia

[WildCat]

How so?
A weak federal government and strong state governments.

[KingMerv00]

A weak federal government and strong state governments.

Isn't libertopia a weak federal government and a weak state government?

You are thinking of Anti-Federalism.

[WildCat]

Isn't libertopia a weak federal government and a weak state government?
Not from what I can tell, they're always harping on state's rights.

[TriskettheKid]

How about:

"The Articles of Confederation failed. Hard." instead of the previous descriptions?

After all, there is a reason that the Convention took place.

ETA:

And as quad pointed out, there's nothing special about the ratification by MA. It was the ratification of the Constitution by NH that meant it was passed.

[KingMerv00]

Not from what I can tell, they're always harping on state's rights.

One man's libertarian is another man's tyrant.

[Tsukasa Buddha]

I protest! The ratification was illegal! And it was made by a bunch of elitists behind closed doors!

[Beerina]

Articles of Confederation resulted in Libertopia.

I presume by that you mean it prevented the Feds from extending much of a claw of control?

[WildCat]

I presume by that you mean it prevented the Feds from extending much of a claw of control?
So what flavor of Libertopia do you favor? Are you one of those who thinks that the states are not bound by the US Constitution therefore can establish religion, ban free speech, legalize slavery, and all that other good stuff?

[TriskettheKid]

I presume by that you mean it prevented the Feds from extending much of a claw of control?

Just out of curiosity:

Do you know why the Articles of Confederation were dropped?

[willhaven]

I'm pretty sure they were unable to tax and were unable to amend the articles or pass laws because of the ridiculous requirements required for each.

[TriskettheKid]

I'm pretty sure they were unable to tax and were unable to amend the articles or pass laws because of the ridiculous requirements required for each.

Both are true. Congress could only request money, and changes to the Articles required unanimous consent.

But it was worse than that.

Far, far worse.

There is a reason we drafted the Constitution after about 6 years under the Articles.

[KingMerv00]

I presume by that you mean it prevented the Feds from extending much of a claw of control?

Heh. I love the use of the loaded words "claw of control". I would have said "tentacle of doom", personally.