Malcolm Rivera
Gouverneur Morris was an American Founding Father, statesman, diplomat, and financial expert who played a significant role in shaping the United States Constitution. Born in 1752, Morris was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention, where he was known for his oratorical skills and passionate opposition to slavery. Morris served on the Committee of Style, responsible for editing the final text and details of the Constitution, including its famous Preamble, We the People of the United States. Morris's literary prowess earned him the nickname Penman of the Constitution, and he is recognized as a signatory to this important document.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | January 31, 1752 |
| Place of Birth | Morrisania house, Manhattan, New York City |
| Date of Death | November 6, 1816 |
| Place of Death | Morrisania house, New York, New York, U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| Profession | Statesman, Diplomat, Financial Expert, Lawyer, Senator |
| Committee Membership | Committee of Style and Arrangement, Committee on Postponed Parts, Erie Canal Commission |
| Political Views | Federalist, Conservative |
| Role in U.S. Constitution | Signatory, "Penman of the Constitution", Wrote Preamble |
| Notable Contributions | "We the People", Opposition to Slavery, Advocate for Strong Central Government |
| Physical Appearance | Tall (over six feet), Peg Leg due to a carriage accident |
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What You'll Learn
Gouverneur Morris was a Founding Father of the United States
Gouverneur Morris, born on January 31, 1752, was an American Founding Father, statesman, diplomat, and financial expert. He played a significant role in the creation of the United States Constitution and is known as the "Penman of the Constitution" for his literary contributions to its text and structure. Morris was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention in 1787, where he served on two central committees: the Committee of Style and Arrangement, and the Committee on Postponed Parts, also known as the Committee of Eleven.
Morris was an outspoken advocate for a strong central government and defended the need for an energetic and independent president with sufficient powers to counter legislative tyranny. He argued for popular election over congressional election, believing it would check the influence of the legislature. Morris also vehemently opposed slavery and was one of the few delegates to speak out against it at the Convention. He advanced the idea of citizenship of a single union of states, rather than individual states, which was a novel concept at the time.
Morris's literary skills and oratorical abilities greatly influenced the final wording of the Constitution. He drafted the Preamble, including the famous phrase, "We the People of the United States." He also contributed to the construction of the Erie Canal, which provided a significant economic boost to New York. After the ratification of the Constitution, Morris served as Minister Plenipotentiary to France, where he criticized the French Revolution and the execution of Marie Antoinette.
Morris had a notable physical presence, standing over six feet tall, and his appearance was similar to that of George Washington. He came from a prominent family in New York and was known for his wit, romantic life, and high society connections. Morris lost his leg in a carriage accident at the age of 28, resulting in his use of a peg leg. He was an avid diary keeper and began documenting his experiences upon arriving in Paris in 1789. Gouverneur Morris's contributions to the founding of the United States and his impact on the Constitution cannot be overstated, securing his place as one of the nation's Founding Fathers.
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Morris was a signatory to the US Constitution
Gouverneur Morris was an American Founding Father, statesman, diplomat, and financial expert. He was born on January 31, 1752, and died on November 6, 1816. He was a signatory to the United States Constitution and played a significant role in shaping its language and structure.
Morris was just 35 years old when he attended the Constitutional Convention in 1787. He was a member of the Committee of Style and Arrangement, also known as the Committee of Five, which was tasked with editing the final text and details of the document. Morris was a gifted writer and orator, and his skills greatly contributed to the clarity and eloquence of the Constitution. He is often referred to as the "Penman of the Constitution" in recognition of his literary contributions.
Morris gave the Preamble its unforgettable text: "We the People of the United States." He changed the original wording, which referenced "We, the People of the States," to unite the states under a single union. Morris also advocated for a strong central government, with a powerful and independent president, and he passionately opposed slavery, arguing for the right of anyone to practice their chosen religion without interference.
In addition to his role in shaping the Constitution, Morris had a diverse and influential career. He served as a lieutenant colonel in the New York state militia and represented New York in the United States Senate from 1800 to 1803. He was appointed minister to France in 1792 and later served as chairman of the Erie Canal Commission, which constructed the Erie Canal, boosting New York's economy. Morris's talents extended beyond politics, and he was known for his wit, romantic life, and high society status.
Gouverneur Morris's contributions to the United States Constitution and his subsequent achievements as a statesman, diplomat, and financial expert have left a lasting impact on the nation. His literary skills and passionate oratory ensured that the Constitution was not just a legal document but a powerful expression of the ideals and principles of the founding of the United States of America.
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He wrote the Preamble to the Constitution
Gouverneur Morris was an American Founding Father, statesman, diplomat, and financial expert. He was born on January 31, 1752, and died on November 6, 1816. He was an outspoken opponent of slavery and served as a delegate to the Constitutional Convention in 1787, where he played a significant role in shaping the language and structure of the United States Constitution. Morris has been referred to as the "Penman of the Constitution," reflecting his significant contributions to its final wording and prose.
Morris's most notable contribution was drafting the entire Preamble to the Constitution, including the iconic phrase, "We the People of the United States." He replaced the original wording of "We, the People of the States" with this new phrase, reflecting his vision of a unified nation. This shift in language advanced the idea of citizenship of a single union of states rather than individual states. Morris's powerful and succinct prose, combined with his oratorical skills, left a lasting impact on the Constitution's preamble.
As a member of the Committee of Style and Arrangement, also known as the Committee of Five, Morris was tasked with editing the final text and details of the Constitution. This committee, which included Alexander Hamilton and James Madison, may have met at Miss Dally's boarding house in Philadelphia. Morris's literary prowess and skill with words contributed significantly to the clarity and elegance of the Constitution's final draft.
In addition to his work on the Preamble, Morris advocated for a strong central government during the Constitutional Convention. He supported life tenure for the president, the presidential appointment of senators, and a powerful executive branch to ward off legislative tyranny. Morris also passionately defended religious freedom and the right to practice one's chosen religion without interference, successfully including such language in the Constitution.
Morris's influence extended beyond the Constitution as well. He served as Minister Plenipotentiary to France, where he criticized the French Revolution and the execution of Marie Antoinette. Upon his return to the United States, he was elected to the Senate in 1800 and affiliated with the Federalist Party. He also played a crucial role in constructing the Erie Canal, which provided a significant economic boost to New York.
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Morris was an outspoken opponent of slavery
Gouverneur Morris was a Founding Father of the United States and a signatory to the Articles of Confederation and the United States Constitution. He wrote the Preamble to the Constitution, including the celebrated phrase "We the People of the United States". He was also one of the most outspoken opponents of slavery among those who were present at the Constitutional Congress.
Morris was an aristocrat who criticized aristocrats. He was a conservative but not an ideologue. He was a strong believer in civic duty and was consistent in his belief that the institution of slavery would poison American politics. He gave the most powerful denunciation of slavery at the Constitutional Convention, offering a clear prophecy of disaster from its power to occupy Americans' minds. Morris was also one of the few delegates at the Philadelphia Convention who spoke openly against domestic slavery. According to James Madison's notes, Morris stated that it was incongruous to say that a slave was both a man and property at the same time. He never would concur in upholding domestic slavery.
Morris was on the committee on the slave trade and navigation, which crafted solutions to the intractable problems at the Convention, such as the selection of the presidency. He was also one of the loudest voices against slavery at the Convention. He gave angry speeches against the institution of slavery and against representation for enslaved non-citizens, but ultimately failed to effect any change. Morris thought the formula for representation should be the same as the one for taxation: if southern states were allowed to count slaves towards their representation, they must also count towards their taxes owed to the national government.
Morris was against the War of 1812, which he considered idiotic, and he saw the conflict as caused by the expansionist dreams of slaveholders. He pushed hard for secession, which would create a separate New York-New England Confederation.
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He was a delegate at the Constitutional Convention
Gouverneur Morris was a delegate at the Constitutional Convention, also known as the Philadelphia Convention, in 1787. He was 35 years old at the time and played a significant role in shaping the language and structure of the Constitution. Morris was a gifted orator and writer, known for his wit and skill in charming ladies. He gave the most speeches out of all the delegates, with a total of 173, and was a member of two central committees: the Committee of Style and Arrangement, and the Committee on Postponed Parts or the Committee of Eleven.
As a member of the Committee of Style, Morris was instrumental in crafting the final wording of the Constitution. He tightened the text and made it more concise and powerful, earning him the nickname "Penman of the Constitution". Morris is particularly known for changing the preamble from “We, the people of the States” to “We, the people of the United States,” a phrase that has become unforgettable in American history.
In addition to his work on the preamble, Morris advocated for a strong central government, a powerful and independent presidency, and the popular election of the president. He believed that the president needed sufficient powers to counter legislative tyranny and act as a "guardian of the people." Morris also argued for the inclusion of language in the Constitution protecting religious freedom, reflecting his strong sense of civic duty.
Morris's contributions to the Constitutional Convention were significant, and he is remembered as one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. He signed the Articles of Confederation and the United States Constitution, and his literary skills left an indelible mark on the final wording of the document. Morris's work at the Convention helped shape the course of American history and the principles upon which the nation was founded.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Gouverneur Morris signed the United States Constitution and was also a signatory to the Articles of Confederation.
Gouverneur Morris was an American statesman, diplomat, and financial expert. He was also a Founding Father of the United States.
Gouverneur Morris was a delegate at the Constitutional Convention and was highly influential in creating the language and structure of the Constitution. He was a member of the Committee of Style, which was formed to decide on the Constitution's final wording.
Gouverneur Morris was an outspoken opponent of slavery and advocated for religious tolerance. He also served as a senator from New York and was appointed minister to France. Additionally, he helped plan the U.S. decimal coinage system and played a role in the construction of the Erie Canal.
Gouverneur Morris was known for his wit, romantic life, and physical appearance, which resembled that of George Washington. He was also a skilled orator and writer, delivering 173 speeches during the Convention, the most out of any delegate. Morris had a peg leg as a result of a carriage accident when he was 28 years old.
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