Isabella Carter
The United States Constitution was drafted in 1787 by 55 delegates from 12 states who met in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The delegates were tasked with revising the Articles of Confederation, which had attempted to retain as much independence and sovereignty for the states as possible, but ultimately failed to provide the national government with essential powers. The drafting process involved several committees and multiple drafts, with the final draft presented by the Committee of Style and Arrangement, composed of Alexander Hamilton, William Johnson, Rufus King, James Madison, and Gouverneur Morris. This committee was responsible for distilling a final draft constitution from the 23 approved articles, reorganizing them into a cohesive document containing seven articles, a preamble, and a closing endorsement. The final draft was signed by 39 delegates on September 17, 1787, and the ratification process began, concluding when the final state, Rhode Island, ratified it on May 29, 1790.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of drafts of the U.S. Constitution | 2 |
| First draft constitution committee | Committee of Detail |
| Members of Committee of Detail | John Rutledge, Edmund Randolph, Nathaniel Gorham, Oliver Ellsworth, and James Wilson |
| Second draft constitution committee | Committee of Style and Arrangement |
| Members of Committee of Style and Arrangement | Alexander Hamilton, William Johnson, Rufus King, James Madison, and Gouverneur Morris |
| Number of approved articles in the second draft | 23 |
| Number of articles in the final draft | 7 |
| Number of folios in the first draft | 4 |
| Number of pages in the first draft | 8 |
| Number of pages with handwritten annotations in the first draft | 7 |
| Number of copies of the second draft | 500 |
| Date of signing the final draft | September 17, 1787 |
| Number of delegates who signed the final draft | 39 |
| Number of states represented by the delegates who signed the final draft | 12 |
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What You'll Learn
George Washington's annotated copy
Washington was given charge of the Convention's records, journals, voting records, and miscellaneous items. He held on to the papers until March 19, 1796, when he, as President of the United States, deposited the official records of the Constitutional Convention with Secretary of State Timothy Pickering. Most of those records remained in the custody of the State Department until they were transferred to the Library of Congress in the early 20th century.
The State Department held on to some papers, including Washington's draft Constitution, and sent it to the National Archives in the late 1930s. Washington's annotated copy is particularly significant as it provides insight into his thoughts and approach to the development of the young American republic. He brought his experience as a surveyor, landowner, businessman, politician, and soldier to the role, as well as his eight years of experience as Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army.
The process of drafting the US Constitution involved multiple iterations and revisions. The Constitutional Convention, comprising 55 delegates chosen by their state legislatures, was tasked with revising the failing Articles of Confederation. The delegates spent the summer of 1787 debating and drafting the Constitution, and the final text was signed on September 17, 1787. The National Archives also houses the original, engrossed Constitution of the United States, which is on display in Washington, DC.
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The Committee of Detail
The first draft of the Constitution was followed by a second working draft, printed by Dunlap & Claypoole and distributed to the delegates on September 13. This version included annotations by the delegates, including a last-minute change to reduce the cap on the number of people House members could represent from 40,000 to 30,000. On September 15, the delegates voted on the Constitution, and on September 17, they signed the final document, which was then submitted to Congress for transmittal to the states for ratification.
The National Archives also holds the papers of David Brearley, which include two draft versions of the Constitution. One of these drafts is the printed draft reported by the Committee on Style and Arrangement, a committee of five members elected on September 8 to revise the style and arrange the agreed-upon articles of the Constitution.
In addition to the drafts mentioned above, the National Archives also houses the Official Records of the Constitutional Convention of 1787, which include drafts of the Virginia Plan and of a letter from the Convention to Congress, as well as the Papers of David Brearley, which contain his notes from September 27, 1785, to September 12, 1787.
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The Committee of Eleven
Another Committee of Eleven, sometimes referred to as the Committee on Postponed Parts, was appointed on August 31, 1787, to address unresolved questions from the Convention. This committee worked on finalizing the remaining issues, demonstrating the important role that these committees played in the drafting process of the U.S. Constitution.
The National Archives and the Library of Congress hold valuable records related to the drafting of the Constitution, including the Official Records of the Constitutional Convention of 1787 and the papers of David Brearley, providing insights into the work of committees like the Committee of Eleven.
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The Committee of Style and Arrangement
One of the key members of the Committee of Style and Arrangement was Gouverneur Morris. Morris made significant contributions to the language and punctuation of the Constitution. His changes to the agreed-upon language were subtle but impactful. These changes allowed both Federalists and Republicans to appeal to the text during constitutional debates in the early republic. Morris's influence extended beyond the Committee, as Federalists drew on his language in their fight for their vision of the Constitution.
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The final draft
The delegates grappled with contentious issues such as states' rights, representation, and slavery. Eventually, they adopted a proposal put forward by the Connecticut delegation, which included the Three-Fifths Compromise concerning how slaves would be counted when apportioning representatives and taxes. The final draft of the Constitution reorganised the 23 approved articles into a cohesive document containing seven articles, a preamble, and a closing endorsement, of which Gouverneur Morris was the primary author.
The Committee of Style and Arrangement, composed of Alexander Hamilton, William Johnson, Rufus King, James Madison, and Gouverneur Morris, was responsible for distilling the final draft from the approved articles. This committee also presented a proposed letter to accompany the constitution when delivered to Congress. The final draft received the unanimous approval of the state delegations, with the exception of three delegates who declined to sign the document: Edmund Randolph, George Mason, and Elbridge Gerry.
The official records of the Constitutional Convention were deposited with the Secretary of State, Timothy Pickering, by President George Washington in 1796. Most of these records were later transferred to the Library of Congress in the early 20th century, while some, including Washington's draft Constitution, were sent to the National Archives in the 1930s. The National Archives also houses the original, engrossed Constitution of the United States, which is on display in Washington, DC.
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Frequently asked questions
There were several drafts of the US Constitution, including the first printed draft, known as George Washington's Annotated Copy, and the final draft, which was signed by 39 delegates from 12 states on September 17, 1787.
The original, engrossed Constitution of the United States is housed in the National Archives Building in Washington, DC. However, the National Archives also hold other versions of the Constitution, including George Washington's Annotated Copy of a Draft and David Brearley's copies.
The US Constitution was drafted by 55 delegates chosen by their state legislatures. These delegates were instructed by Congress to revise the failing Articles of Confederation. The Committee of Style and Arrangement, composed of Alexander Hamilton, William Johnson, Rufus King, James Madison, and Gouverneur Morris, distilled the final draft constitution from the 23 approved articles.
The drafting of the US Constitution began on May 25, 1787, when the Constitutional Convention met for the first time at the Pennsylvania State House in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The final draft was signed on September 17, 1787.
