History and government of the United States, for evening schools . ion. — The new nation of the United Statesfound it very difficult to establish a good form of was heavily in debt, and each of the States regarded itselfas an independent nation, not responsible for the general debtscontracted by Congress for the prosecution of the war. Atlast, after much discussion, a convention of delegates from allthe States agreed upon the Constitution that is at presentenforced in the United States. This was framed in 1787, andwas ratified by a sufficient number of States to put it fully inop
History and government of the United States, for evening schools . ion. — The new nation of the United Statesfound it very difficult to establish a good form of was heavily in debt, and each of the States regarded itselfas an independent nation, not responsible for the general debtscontracted by Congress for the prosecution of the war. Atlast, after much discussion, a convention of delegates from allthe States agreed upon the Constitution that is at presentenforced in the United States. This was framed in 1787, andwas ratified by a sufficient number of States to put it fully inoperation by 1789, when George Washington was inauguratedPresident. This Constitution is a system of political rights,privileges, and opportunities for all the States, for all the 36 HISTORY OF OUR COUNTRY individual citizens, and for the nation as a whole; it has beenwonderfully successful in its practical operation. (See pages105 to 108.) Effect of Adoption of Constitution.—Its adoption was followedby a rapid revival of business, which had suffered almost as. much from political troubles after the war was over as it hadsuffered from such troubles and from the military losses duringthe progress of the war. Origin of our Government. — Our American government isa product of long and slow growth. Very little of it is origi- HISTORr OF OUR COUNTRY 37 nal with us. The most important original feature of Americandemocracy is the complete separation of church and state; thatis, of government and religion. This for years had been thedream and desire of many philosophers and statesmen of theOld World. Most of our principles and forms of governmentcame with our first settlers from England. Among these werethe principle of representation, the town meeting, and thecounty government. Most of the truths embodied in the Con-stitution came from England, though the idea itself of a Con-stitution as the fundamental law of the nation came fromFrance. The secret ballot came from Holland. 42. T
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