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Constitutional Compromises
Members of the convention that formed the U.S. Constitution generally shared a goal of shifting power to a central government and away from state legislatures. They also agreed that the new government should directly represent American voters.
The Federal Pillars
The Massachusetts Centinel newspaper published a series of images showing each state that ratified the proposed constitution as a pillar that, standing with the others, would create a new edifice. This image from January 1788 depicts the first five states to ratify, in order from left to right. Massachusetts would ratify on February 7, 1788. |