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The Constitution Explained | A Primary Source Close Read w/ BRI
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How is the U.S. Constitution structured? In the newest episode of our Close Reads: Explained series, Kirk tackles the Constitution and explains its biggest concepts to you. What does the Constitution of the United States teach us about the government it defines?
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The Constitution was written in the summer of 1787 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by delegates from 12 states, in order to replace the Articles of Confederation with a new form of government. It created a federal system with a national government composed of 3 separated powers, and included both reserved and concurrent powers of states.
In 1787, many Americans were concerned that the Articles of Confederation did not grant enough power to the central government to protect the rights of the people. Under the Articles, the national government was unable to regulate commerce, taxation, currency, treaties, and protect the rights of individuals and states. The states called a delegation to meet in Philadelphia in the summer of 1787, and from that convention the new Constitution was born.