Isabella Carter
David Brearley was a very important person in the creation of the United States Constitution. He was a Founding Father, which means he helped to create the country of the United States of America. Brearley was also a lawyer, soldier, and politician. He was born in New Jersey and studied law at Princeton University. At the Constitutional Convention in 1787, he was the leader of a group that made important decisions about how the US government should be organized. This group helped create a powerful president, invented the position of vice president, and created the Electoral College. He also signed the Constitution on behalf of his home state of New Jersey.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | June 11, 1745 |
| Date of Death | August 16, 1790 |
| Occupation | Lawyer, soldier, politician, judge |
| Role in US Constitution | Chairman of the Committee on Postponed Parts |
| Committee Achievements | Invented the vice-presidency, created a powerful president, and concocted the Electoral College |
| Other Achievements | Signed the US Constitution, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of New Jersey, appointed lieutenant-colonel in the Continental Army in 1776 |
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What You'll Learn
David Brearley was a Founding Father
Brearley played a significant role in shaping the Constitution. He was the Chairman of the Committee on Postponed Parts, which resolved many of the most difficult and disputed aspects of the new government. The Committee decided to transfer certain powers from the Senate to the President, including the power to make treaties and appoint ambassadors. They also created the position of vice president and the Electoral College.
Brearley had a legal career before the American Revolution, during which he was arrested for his opposition to British rule. After the outbreak of the Revolutionary War, he served as a captain in the Monmouth County militia. Following the war, he became a founding member of the Society of the Cincinnati in New Jersey and served as its vice president until his death in 1790.
As a judge, Brearley made important rulings that shaped the interpretation of the Constitution. He served as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of New Jersey from 1779 to 1789 and decided on cases that established the judiciary's authority to declare laws unconstitutional. Brearley was also a delegate to the Federal Convention of 1787 and chairman of the New Jersey Convention to ratify the United States Constitution in 1788.
David Brearley's contributions to the creation and interpretation of the United States Constitution firmly establish him as one of the nation's Founding Fathers. His role in shaping the government and legal system of the young nation was significant and influential.
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He was a delegate at the 1787 Constitutional Convention
David Brearley was a delegate at the 1787 Constitutional Convention, also known as the Federal Convention, where he played a significant role in shaping the United States Constitution. He was a representative from New Jersey, and his contributions to the convention were important despite his quiet nature.
Brearley served as the Chairman of the Committee on Postponed Parts, a position that allowed him to resolve many complex issues facing the convention. This committee was responsible for settling disputes among the delegates regarding the structure and powers of the new government. They tackled controversial topics, such as the term length of the president and the handling of patents, and made important decisions in a short amount of time.
The Committee on Postponed Parts, led by Brearley, also played a pivotal role in transferring powers from the Senate to the President. The President was given the authority to make treaties and appoint ambassadors, strengthening the executive branch.
In August 1787, when the Constitutional Convention faced deep divisions and was on the brink of collapse, the delegates turned to Brearley for leadership. In just five days, the committee he led created a powerful presidency, established the position of vice president, and formed the Electoral College.
Brearley's work as a delegate and committee chairman at the 1787 Constitutional Convention was instrumental in shaping the final document that became the United States Constitution. His contributions helped lay the foundation for the country's system of government and the balance of powers between its branches.
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He was Chairman of the Committee on Postponed Parts
David Brearley was an American Founding Father and a delegate from New Jersey to the Constitutional Convention of 1787. The Constitutional Convention was tasked with drafting the United States Constitution.
While at the convention, Brearley was elected Chairman of the Committee on Postponed Parts, also known as the Brearley Committee. This committee was responsible for reviewing and resolving several hotly contested issues that had been postponed by the Committee of the Whole.
The Brearley Committee played a crucial role in shaping the final Constitution. They addressed questions related to taxes, war-making, patents and copyrights, relations with Native American tribes, and Franklin's compromise on money bills. One of their most significant contributions was their work on the presidency. They created a powerful executive by inventing the position of vice president and establishing the Electoral College for electing the president. They also shortened the president's term from seven years to four, allowing for re-election, and moved impeachment trials from the courts to the Senate.
Additionally, the committee settled debates over the organisation of the United States Government, transferring some powers from the Executive Branch to the Legislature. They also made important decisions regarding the Senate's powers, giving the president the authority to make treaties and appoint ambassadors.
Brearley's leadership and contributions as Chairman of the Committee on Postponed Parts were instrumental in shaping the final document of the United States Constitution.
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He helped create a powerful president and vice-presidency
David Brearley was a very important person in American history. He was born in 1745 and died in 1790. He was a Founding Father of the United States and helped to create the US Constitution.
Brearley was a lawyer, soldier, politician, and judge. He was also the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of New Jersey. In 1787, he was sent to the Constitutional Convention, which was a meeting of important people who helped to write the US Constitution.
At the Constitutional Convention, Brearley was the leader of a group called the Committee on Postponed Parts. This group helped to make decisions about how the US government should be organized. They also gave the president and vice president more power. The vice-presidency was Brearley's idea! The group also decided that the president should be able to make treaties and appoint ambassadors, which are very important jobs.
Brearley and his group helped to resolve some really difficult decisions that the people at the Constitutional Convention were arguing about. They did all of this in just two weeks!
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He signed the United States Constitution
David Brearley was a Founding Father of the United States. He was born in New Jersey in 1745 and studied law at the College of New Jersey, which is now Princeton University. He was a lawyer, soldier, politician, and judge.
Brearley was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 1787, which drafted the United States Constitution. He was also the Chairman of the Committee on Postponed Parts, which played a significant role in shaping the final document. The committee helped resolve many aspects of the new government that were being disputed among the delegates. For example, the committee decided on the term length of the president and how to handle patents.
Brearley's committee also settled several debates over how the United States government should be organized. They decided to move some powers usually held by an Executive Branch over to the Legislature. In just five days, the committee created a powerful president, invented the vice-presidency, and came up with the Electoral College.
David Brearley signed the United States Constitution in 1787, at the age of 42. He was also a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey from 1789 until his death in 1790.
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Frequently asked questions
David Brearly was an American Founding Father, a lawyer, soldier, politician, and judge. He was born in New Jersey in 1745 and died in 1790.
David Brearly was a delegate at the Constitutional Convention of 1787, which drafted the United States Constitution. He was also the Chairman of the Committee on Postponed Parts, which helped to resolve disputes among the delegates and played a substantial role in shaping the final document.
David Brearly was also the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of New Jersey from 1779 to 1789. He was a captain in the Monmouth County militia during the Revolutionary War and later became a lieutenant-colonel in the Continental Army. After the war, he was a founding member of the Society of the Cincinnati in New Jersey.
The Committee on Postponed Parts was appointed to resolve some of the most difficult and hotly contested issues at the Constitutional Convention. The committee helped to decide how the United States government should be organized, including transferring some powers from the Executive Branch to the Legislature.
Yes, David Brearly signed the United States Constitution in 1787. He was 42 years old at the time.
