Random Thoughts

The United States Constitution went into effect in 1789. It had been written several months earlier – in the summer of 1787 – and had been ratified by the states only after a vigorous campaign by its supporters to “sell” the document to the country’s white male voters.

Many people were afraid of the government that the Constitution would create. Some thought the U.S. government would have so much power that the states would become insignificant. That, of course, did not happen.

Others objected to the Constitution because it outlined powers that the United States would have but said nothing abo...