The American Constitution

After the American Revolution, each state wanted to be its own country. Each state began writing its constitution, creating its army and navy, and preparing to establish foreign treaties. Although the French helped the Americans in the war, each state thought the other should pay for the reparations. American leaders of the war thought that instead of 13 independent countries, the states should join together under a federal government. So delegates from every state came to the meeting in Philadelphia, where they would make the new Constitution. The delegates wanted to make a government that everyone was equal and one man did not have more power than the other. So, they created three classes: Legislative, Executive, and Judicial. The Legislative branch is Congress, (The House of Representatives and the House of Senators) the Executive branch is the President, and the Judicial branch is judges. Now that the government was ready, the delegates decided that at least 9 states would have to ratify or agree on the new government. When the ninth state finally ratified the government in 1788, many people wanted a Bill of Rights. The Bill of Rights included the first 10 amendments or additions to the government. The 10 additional laws were: Americans could have opinions of the government, worship God as they pleased, gather in public, keep weapons for defense, can’t go to jail without a trial, and the government couldn’t act like a king, etc. After making the laws, many wanted George Washington to be their first President. However, he wanted to go back to his farm and chill with his wife. But with everyone wanting him President, he agreed he would serve for 4 years. George Washington then went to New York, the temporary capital to be inaugurated President. Although he wanted a peaceful and quiet journey there, everywhere he went, people gathered to see him. After he was inaugurated President, he made the President’s Cabinet, which would help him with the Treasury, the army and navy, the Secretary of the State, and An Attorney General. He also told Virginia and Maryland to give land for the new capital city Washington D.C, so that no other state was more important than the other. Because being a President was hard, he developed rheumatism and his hair grew white. After he served his 4 years the people wanted him to serve another 4 years. He agreed to this but warned that this would be his last time ruling. After he served his other 4 years he finally retired from his farm. Because he served only 2 terms, that is the ideal number of how many years a President can serve; anymore than that and you can’t be President anymore.