"A Republic, if You Can Keep It"
—Benjamin Franklin, in 1787, responding to the question, “What have we got, a republic or a monarchy?"
The Constitution was approved by the Constitutional Convention on September 17, 1787, after four months of secret conversations, debate, and compromise. While the Constitution did not have unanimous consensus or agreement, Benjamin Franklin felt that no better document could be written. New Hampshire was the ninth state to ratify it on June 22, 1788, and on March 9, 1789, the Constitution officially took effect.
The Constitution that the Framers arrived at not only designed a government but also placed limits on it to prevent arbitrary rule. Watch the video to learn more.
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NARRATOR: On September 17th, 1787, the delegates gathered to vote on the proposed constitution. Benjamin Franklin made the motion for its adoption.
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN (re-enactment): I agree to this Constitution with all its faults, if they are such, because I think a general government necessary for us. I doubt too, whether any other convention we can obtain may be able to make a better constitution for when you assemble a number of men to have the advantage of their joint wisdom, you inevitably assemble with those men all their prejudices, their passions, their errors of opinion, their local interests and their selfish views. From such an assembly can a perfect production be expected.
It therefore astonishes me, sir, to find this system approaching so near to perfection as it does. And I think it will astonish our enemies, who are waiting with confidence to hear that our councils are confounded like those of the builders of Babel, and that our states are on the point of separation only to meet hereafter for the purpose of cutting one another's throats.
Thus I consent, sir, to this Constitution because I expect no better, and because I am not sure that it is not the best.
Take Notes
In this activity, you’ll reflect on what you’ve learned about the Constitution in this interactive lesson and how it structures our government today.
Using what you have learned, fill in the right-hand column of the chart that you began at the beginning of the lesson with up to three facts that you learned about the Constitution.
