Ed Vebell: Constitution Ratified

Artist: Ed Vebell
1921 -
Nationality: American
Artwork Year: 1979
Image Size: 21.25 by 20 inches
Overall Size: 26.5 by 23.75 inches
Medium: Acrylic on Masonite

The breakdown of government under the Articles of Confederation in the mid-1780s persuaded the Continental Congress to call for a convention to amend the Articles so that they would prove "adequate to the exigencies of Union." That convention assembled in Philadelphia on May 25, 1787, and after a little more than three months of debate, completed and signed the Constitution of the United States on September 17th. Within a year it was ratified by the States and went into effect on the 16th of April, 1789 when President Washington made his Inaugural Address to the First Congress. "That Constitution," William Gladstone was to say a century later, "is the most remarkable work in modern times to have been produced by the human intellect at a single stroke." There is no need to modify that conclusion today. It was the first constitution to derive its authority from the people, and the first to be ratified by the people. For the first time, too, it provided for the effective separation of executive, legislative and judicial power. It created the first effective federal system, and in so doing, placed civil over military authority. It contained within itself provisions for expansion -- not by adding "colonies" but by providing for the admission of new territories as states. It contained the first Bill of Rights to provide substantive as well as procedural guarantees to the liberty of the people. No wonder then that it alone among written constitutions, has survived for over two hundred years.

This artwork was originally published on the Fleetwood® Commemorative Cover for Epic Events in American History series issued in 1985.

Artwork Copyright © 1979 Unicover Corporation. All Rights Reserved under United States and international copyright laws. You may not reproduce, distribute, transmit, or otherwise exploit the Artwork in any way. Images of the Artwork may be watermarked and/or digitally watermarked. Any sale of the physical original does not include or convey the Copyright or any right comprised in the copyright.

Our Stock Number (SKU): XB05379

US$ Price: $2,300.00

Easy Purchase Plan: Buy this ArtworkOriginal with 8 monthly payments. Shipping and handling will be added to the first payment. Payments will be charged automatically as due to your Credit Card.

How to buy Original Artwork:

If you would like to buy Original Artwork, there are several convenient ways:

Use The Artwork Gallery: simply click the "Hang in Gallery" for pictures of interest. This puts the picture in your Personal Artwork Gallery, where you can view or remove it. When you've finished hanging artwork in your Personal Artwork Gallery, Go to your Personal Artwork Gallery and select an option for contacting us or ordering from us from there.

To get in touch with us directly about a piece of Artwork by Phone note the SKU and dial TOLL FREE 1-800-287-4079 from throughout U.S. and Canada.