Why Has the U.S. Constitution Lasted Over 200 Years?
There are many reasons for why the U.S. Constitution has endured for over 200 years, but the most important is that it was designed to change and grow with time. Article Five, which details the process for amendments, was created by the Founding Fathers to allow the Constitution to be updated as necessary.
The flexibility built into the Constitution allowed amendments to be passed abolishing slavery and giving women the right to vote. The Constitution was created by 39 delegates representing 12 states, which made it a fair, balanced document with different points of view coming together. The process began on May 25, 1787, and it was completed on September 17, 1787.
The Constitution reflects American ideals and protects the rights of the people. It was also able to establish a strong government while still instituting checks and balances in each branch of government, ensuring that no section of government would have total power. The Founding Fathers were influenced by many societies and previous governments when writing the Constitution, which allowed them to learn from previous mistakes and take the most successful elements of those societies and governments. The British government was a major influence, along with ancient and modern republics.
