The First to Ratify: Delaware and the Golden Fleece Tavern
In the chilly early winter of 1787, the future of a young nation hung in a delicate balance. Having successfully waged a war for independence against Great Britain, the thirteen American states found themselves struggling to govern under their first constitution, the Articles of Confederation. This initial framework created a central government so weak that it could not levy taxes, regulate commerce, or enforce laws effectively. Recognizing the imminent threat of national collapse, delegates met in Philadelphia during the hot summer of 1787 to draft an entirely new document: the United States Constitution. However, before this new blueprint for federalism could become the law of the land, it required the approval—or ratification—of at least nine of the thirteen states.
- Ratification:
- The official approval of a document or treaty, making it legally valid and binding.
- Bicameral:
- A legislative body consisting of two separate branches, chambers, or houses.
- Federalism:
- A system of government where power is shared between a strong central government and individual state governments.
- Sovereignty:
- The supreme power or authority of a state to govern itself and make its own laws.
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- 1Why were the thirteen American states struggling to govern themselves under the Articles of Confederation?
- 2Where did delegates meet in the summer of 1787 to draft the new United States Constitution?
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About this explanatory article passage for Middle School
“The First to Ratify: Delaware and the Golden Fleece Tavern” is a explanatory article reading passage about Delaware's Ratification of the U.S. Constitution, written for Middle School. It takes about 4 minutes to read (534 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.