Initial Efforts: Making of the Constitution Video Lecture | Indian Polity for UPSC CSE

The initial efforts in making of the Constitution involved the creation of the Constitutional Convention in 1787. This convention was held to address the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation and to develop a new framework for governing the United States. Delegates from each state came together to discuss and debate various issues, leading to the drafting of the Constitution.

Several key figures played significant roles in the making of the Constitution. James Madison is often referred to as the "Father of the Constitution" due to his influential contributions during the convention. Other important figures include George Washington, who presided over the convention, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Alexander Hamilton, and John Adams, among others.

The main goals of the Constitutional Convention were to create a stronger central government, establish a system of checks and balances, address the representation of states in the legislative branch, and protect individual rights. The delegates aimed to strike a balance between maintaining the sovereignty of individual states and creating a more effective national government.

The drafting of the Constitution took approximately four months. The Constitutional Convention began on May 25, 1787, and the final draft of the Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787. During this period, delegates engaged in intense debates and compromises to shape the document that would become the foundation of the United States' government.

The major debates and compromises during the Constitutional Convention revolved around issues such as representation in the legislature, the balance of power between the states and the federal government, and the inclusion of a Bill of Rights. The Great Compromise resolved the disagreement between large and small states by creating a bicameral legislature with representation based on both population (House of Representatives) and equal representation for all states (Senate). The Three-Fifths Compromise addressed the issue of counting enslaved individuals for determining representation and taxation. Additionally, the inclusion of a Bill of Rights was heavily debated, with some delegates arguing for its necessity to protect individual liberties.