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The Articles of Confederation's weaknesses prompted the formation of a stronger federal government, leading to the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights. These documents established the framework for American governance, balancing federal authority with individual liberties and states' rights. The Bill of Rights, comprising the first ten amendments, protects freedoms such as speech, religion, and due process, and remains central to American law and society.
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The Articles of Confederation established a confederation of sovereign states with a limited central government
The limited central government structure of the Articles of Confederation led to economic turmoil and diplomatic weakness
The economic and diplomatic issues caused by the Articles of Confederation led to the Constitutional Convention in 1787 to create a new framework for governance
The U.S. Constitution established a stronger federal government with separate executive, legislative, and judicial branches
The lack of explicit protections for individual rights in the Constitution led to resistance from several states, delaying ratification until a Bill of Rights was promised
The Constitution was eventually ratified in 1788, and the Bill of Rights was added in 1791 to address concerns about individual rights
The Federalists, led by figures such as Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison, argued that the Constitution's system of checks and balances would protect individual rights
The Anti-Federalists, including Patrick Henry and George Mason, feared that the new government could become tyrannical without explicit protections for individual rights
The promise of amendments to address concerns about individual rights was crucial in securing the Constitution's ratification
James Madison, who had previously opposed a Bill of Rights, took on the task of drafting amendments to appease the Anti-Federalists and honor commitments made during the ratification debates
After extensive debate and revision, twelve amendments were sent to the states for ratification, with ten being adopted and becoming the United States Bill of Rights on December 15, 1791
The Bill of Rights consists of the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution, enshrining a range of civil liberties and serving as a foundational element of American constitutional law
00
The initial governing document of the U.S. was the ______, which formed a confederation with a weak central authority.
Articles of Confederation
01
In ______, the Constitutional Convention was held in ______ to devise a new system of government, resulting in the U.S. Constitution.
1787
Philadelphia
02
The U.S. Constitution was adopted in ______, but the addition of the ______ in ______ was necessary to appease concerns over individual rights.
1788
Bill of Rights
1791
