Omar Bennett
The United States Constitution is one of the most important documents in the country's history, and its drafting was a meticulous process. The Constitutional Convention, held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1787, saw 55 delegates gather to revise the failing Articles of Confederation. The process of drafting the Constitution was a lengthy one, with several committees formed to address key issues and multiple drafts produced before the final version was signed. The question of how many drafts were written is an intriguing one, and the answer lies in the archives and records from this historic event.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location of the first Constitutional Convention | Pennsylvania State House, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| Date of the first Constitutional Convention | May 25, 1787 |
| Number of delegates | 55 |
| Number of drafts | At least 2 |
| 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 |
| Number of states that did not sign the final draft | 1 (Rhode Island) |
| Number of delegates who declined to sign the final draft | 3 (Edmund Randolph, George Mason, and Elbridge Gerry) |
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What You'll Learn
George Washington's annotated copy of the first draft
Washington's copy is from the Constitutional Convention's first draft, reported by the Committee of Detail on August 6, 1787. It consists of eight pages on four folios, with seven pages containing letterpress printed text and handwritten annotations. The eighth page features a handwritten endorsement. The annotations were made by Washington and William Jackson, the Convention's Secretary.
The first draft was printed by John Dunlap and David Claypoole of Philadelphia, who were sworn to secrecy during the drafting process. Their company, Dunlap & Claypoole, produced two printings of committee proposals containing draft text during the summer of 1787 while the delegates met in Philadelphia.
Washington held on to the records of the Constitutional Convention, including his annotated copy of the first draft, until March 19, 1796, when he deposited them with the Secretary of State, Timothy Pickering. Washington's copy of the first draft remained in the custody of the State Department until it was transferred to the National Archives in the late 1930s.
The annotated copy provides valuable insights into Washington's thoughts and the deliberations that shaped the final Constitution. It showcases Washington's pragmatic and visionary approach to governance, informed by his diverse background and experience as a surveyor, landowner, businessman, politician, and soldier.
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The Committee of Detail's draft
The Committee of Detail was established by the United States Constitutional Convention on July 24, 1785, to put down a draft text reflecting the agreements and resolutions made by the convention up to that point. The committee was chaired by John Rutledge, with other members including Edmund Randolph, Oliver Ellsworth, James Wilson, and Nathaniel Gorham. The committee disproportionately favoured the larger states but was geographically balanced, with Gorham representing northern New England, Ellsworth representing lower New England, Wilson the middle states, and Randolph representing Virginia.
The committee's task was described as "the most important single undertaking of the summer", requiring "precision where agreement was clear, equivocation where it had been elusive". They were responsible for drafting a coherent document that addressed missing parts, dispelled ambiguities, and incorporated existing provisions from sources such as the Articles of Confederation, the Virginia Plan's 15 resolutions, and convention resolutions. The committee also added new provisions that had not been previously discussed by the convention, reconvened the powers of the national government, redefined the powers of the states, and made concessions on the issue of slavery.
The committee's work resulted in two preliminary drafts and a final text, all handwritten by either Wilson or Randolph. The final report was presented to the convention on August 6, 1787, and included annotations and changes adopted by the Convention between August 6 and September 3. This draft was then referred to the Committee of Five (consisting of Alexander Hamilton, William Johnson, Rufus King, James Madison, and Gouverneur Morris), who were elected on September 8 to revise and arrange the agreed-upon articles of the Constitution.
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The Committee of Eleven's work
The drafting of the U.S. Constitution was a lengthy and complex process that involved multiple committees and drafts. One of the key committees that played a significant role in shaping the final document was the Committee of Eleven, also known as the Grand Committee or the Committee on Postponed Parts.
The Committee of Eleven was appointed on July 2, 1787, to address an impasse over representation in the House and Senate. It consisted of one member from each of the eleven states represented at the Constitutional Convention, including Abraham Baldwin, David Brearly, Pierce Butler, and James Madison. The committee proposed a solution to the representation debate, which was included in the draft Constitution presented by the Committee of Detail on August 6.
However, as the Constitutional Convention progressed, several issues remained unresolved. As a result, a second Committee of Eleven was appointed on August 31 to address these outstanding matters. This committee, also referred to as the Committee of Eleven (Leftover Business), tackled questions such as the method of choosing a president, the length of a presidential term, the president's treaty-making power, and the impeachment process. They made a series of reports and recommendations, including the proposal of the Electoral College system for selecting the president and vice president.
The work of the Committee of Eleven (Leftover Business) was crucial in finalizing the Constitution. They addressed complex and contentious issues, finding compromises and solutions that could be accepted by the delegates. Their efforts helped shape the framework of the U.S. government and paved the way for the finalization and signing of the Constitution on September 17, 1787. The Constitutional Convention, which began on May 25, 1787, was a rigorous process that involved fierce debates, multiple committees, and several drafts before the Constitution was adopted and put forward for ratification.
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The Committee of Style and Arrangement's draft
The Committee of Style and Arrangements draft, also known as the Committee of Style and Arrangement, was tasked with preparing the final version of the US Constitution from the textual provisions previously adopted by the Constitutional Convention. The committee was formed on September 8, 1787, and consisted of five members: William Samuel Johnson, Alexander Hamilton, Gouverneur Morris, James Madison, and Rufus King. Gouverneur Morris, a Pennsylvania delegate, was assigned the role of drafter.
The committee's work was crucial, as they were responsible for ensuring the coherence and clarity of the Constitution. They referenced various sources, including state constitutions, the Articles of Confederation, plans submitted to the convention, and the writings of European political philosophers such as Montesquieu and John Locke. Morris, in particular, made several subtle changes that his fellow delegates did not notice or considered stylistic. These changes reflected his nationalist vision and his support for a strong national government. For instance, he modified the opening line of the Preamble to "We, the People of the United States," emphasising national unity.
The Committee of Style and Arrangements draft built upon the work of previous committees, such as the Committee of Detail, which produced the first full draft of the Constitution. This earlier draft was based on the Virginia Plan and the decisions of the convention on modifications to that plan. The Committee of Detail's work laid the foundation for the final document, and their draft included details such as the powers given to Congress, which had not been previously debated.
The final version of the US Constitution was signed by the delegates on September 17, 1787, and is now on display in the National Archives Building in Washington, DC. The National Archives also houses several drafts of the Constitution, including those belonging to George Washington and David Brearley, providing valuable insights into the drafting process and the evolution of the Constitution.
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The final draft
The Committee of Style and Arrangement, composed of Alexander Hamilton, William Johnson, Rufus King, James Madison, and Gouverneur Morris, was tasked with distilling a final draft constitution from the twenty-three approved articles. Morris was the primary author of the final draft, which reorganised the twenty-three articles into a cohesive document containing seven articles, a preamble, and a closing endorsement. The committee also presented a proposed letter to accompany the constitution when delivered to Congress.
The delegates made a few last-minute changes to the final draft, including reducing the cap on the number of people House members could represent from 40,000 to 30,000. On September 15, 1787, the delegates voted on the Constitution, with all states present agreeing. Two days later, thirty-nine delegates signed the Constitution, which was then submitted to Congress for transmittal to the states for ratification. The ratification process ended when Rhode Island ratified the Constitution on May 29, 1790.
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Frequently asked questions
Several drafts of the US Constitution were written before it was finalized on September 17, 1787.
The Committee of Detail, composed of John Rutledge, Edmund Randolph, Nathaniel Gorham, Oliver Ellsworth, and James Wilson, wrote the first draft.
The Committee of Style and Arrangement, composed of Alexander Hamilton, William Johnson, Rufus King, James Madison, and Gouverneur Morris, wrote the final draft. Gouverneur Morris was the primary author.
The Constitutional Convention was held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, beginning on May 25, 1787.
The drafts of the Constitution are housed in the National Archives in Washington, DC.
