Constitutional Timeline

Congress proposes to adopt the Articles on this day. A total of 6 drafts were proposed before Congress settled on one in 1777. They sent it to the individual 13 states to ratify the Articles.
http://users.humboldt.edu/ogayle/hist110/Articles_of_Confederation_1977_Issue-13c.jpg

The Articles of Confederation get ratified by all thirteen states after almost 4 years. The states had bickered and fought as to whether or not to ratify the Articles.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b4/Articles_page1.jpg/190px-Articles_page1.jpg

The Constitutional Convention begins in Philadelphia. State delegates from all the states, except Rhode Island, including George Washington, James Madison, and Benjamin Franklin, go to Philadelphia to make a new U.S. constitution. After 3 months of debating, they finally come up with a new federal system and sign it. It is called the Constitution.
http://carlpepin.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/rc3a9volution-amc3a9ricaine7.jpg?w=552&h=364

The Constitution of the United States of America was signed by 38 of the 41 delegates that were at the conclusion of the convention.
http://ricks.foreignpolicy.com/files/ricksconvention.jpg

Today’s Pennsylvania Packet finally reveals that the delegates in Philadelphia have been writing a Constitution. They have done away with the Articles.
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iuqQCNryEqY/TqrATNaXByI/AAAAAAAAAFc/zYHjiJ8TGRk/s1600/doi+sm.JPG

Today, Delaware becomes the first state to ratify the Constitution. This is a big step because it means that the Constitution might be a success in America.
http://amhist.ist.unomaha.edu/module_files/ratification%20by%20state.JPG

Anti-Federalists are unhappy with the Constitution and think that it lacks a bill of rights to keep the new government from trampling on individual freedoms. So James Madison introduces a bill of rights and sends it to the states for ratification today.
http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lw950f3t3S1r2u8sso1_500.png

After 2 years, the 13 states agree to ratify the first 10 constitutional amendments, known as the Bill of Rights.
https://sphotos-b-ord.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc1/p480x480/1239809_501810446569822_2131203052_n.jpg

The states ratify the 11th amendment today. This amendment limited the power of the federal court. This amendment set limits on when a state can be sued.
http://georgiainfo.galileo.usg.edu/gastudiesimages/11th%20Amendment.jpg

The 12th amendment gets ratified, which requires that the president and vice president to be elected together, that way if a democratic president was elected, he wouldn't have a republican vice president.
http://georgiainfo.galileo.usg.edu/gastudiesimages/12th%20Amendment%201.jpg