curious: how long did it take to write & ratify the US Constitution?

[G_j]

given the US deadline for an Iraqi constitution, I was curious about how long it took the 'founders' of this country to complete the process. I did a real quick search but haven't found the info yet. Any idea?

[mzteris]

1. try this link

http://www.sparknotes.com/history/american/constitution/htimeline.html

[G_j]

2. thanks, "time line" was the search term I neglected

much thanks! :-)

time line highlights:


May 25, 1787: First meeting of the Constitutional Convention - Delegates from all states except Rhode Island meet in Philadelphia for the purpose of revising the Articles of Confederation.

<snip>
July 2, 1788: U.S. Constitution formally ratified - With New Hampshire's ratification, the U.S. Constitution becomes formally accepted and a committee is appointed to plan the transition to the new government.

<snip>
March 4, 1789: Effective Date of the U.S. Constitution - The new U.S. Government under the U.S. Constitution formally goes into effect.

<snip>

September 25, 1789: Congress proposes amendments to the U.S. Constitution - Congress proposes 12 amendments to the Constitution, including the Bill of Rights, for ratification by state legislatures.

<snip>
March 1, 1792: Ratification of Bill of Rights - Thomas Jefferson announces the ratification of the Bill of Rights, and they go into effect.

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

3. I guess we need to consider they weren't being forced to write it at

gunpoint.

[G_j]

4. about 6 months?

From the moment when Iraq's government took power after the January elections to the mid-August deadline isn't much time.


The writers of the document may sideline the most volatile issues, including women's rights, federalism and distribution of national resources.

[eallen]

5. Constitutions can be written under occupation. Consider Japan.

Of course, we pacified Japan, and occupied it for seven years, to make sure that their new institutions were in place.

[Art_from_Ark]

6. There are a lot of differences between Iraq and post-war Japan

1. Japan was a long-established homogenous society. Iraq is a country that was cobbled together from disparate ethnic groups and religious factions and held together by force

2. The Japanese were the first to launch hostilities against the US and were prepared for the worst when they were occupied, but were treated relatively well after the surrender. Iraq never attacked the United States and was invaded in an unprovoked war, with countless Iraqis still dying each day, more than 2 years after the "mission" was declared to be "accomplished" .

3. A man who was respected by the Japanese (MacArthur) was in charge of writing the Japanese Constitution, and to his credit, he made it quite equitable (although the part about the way elections are run leaves much to be desired). Does anyone in charge of Iraq's constitution have any respect from the majority of the Iraqi population?

4. The United States did not overthrow the Japanese head of state, nor were embarassing pictures of him in captivity distributed around the world.

[eallen]

7. You're missing a more important difference...

Truman was serious, committed, and sensible. Bush is vapid, unfaithful, and dumb as a brick.

[Peregrine]

8. There are no democrats in Iraq

Our constitution was written (for the most part) by people who were interested in building a government.

In Iraq, each of the members of the council want to write a constitution that guarantees their power.

The Iraqis that pushed and shoved (and lied) to get this war didn't want it in order to establish a democracy, they wanted power.

[Art_from_Ark]

9. Don't forget that the writers of the US Constitution

mostly shared a philosophical heritage that was deeply rooted in the Enlightenment and in the writings of great thinkers like John Locke.

[G_j]

10. not only do they lack a foundation, if you read Will Pitts recent post

about the possibility of the Sunnis being cut out, it becomes even more obvious that the US imposed deadline is a serious problem. No wonder the admin. has "lowered expectations".

how sad..