Who Wrote The Constitution? The Men Behind The Words

The U.S. Constitution was signed by 39 men, all of whom were white, landowners, and Founding Fathers. The original states, except Rhode Island, appointed 70 individuals to the Constitutional Convention, but only 55 attended the sessions. Of these 55, 41 were present to sign the final draft, and 39 signed. The signatories' ages ranged from 26 to 81, with Benjamin Franklin being the oldest at 81. The Constitution was influenced by the country's experience under the Articles of Confederation, which attempted to retain as much independence and sovereignty for the states as possible.

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The Constitutional Convention of 1787

The convention was convened to address the weaknesses of the central government under the Articles of Confederation, which was America's first constitution. The Articles gave the Confederation Congress rule-making and funding powers but lacked enforcement authority and the ability to regulate commerce or print money. This led to disputes between the states over territory, war pensions, taxation, and trade, threatening the unity of the young nation.

James Madison of Virginia, Alexander Hamilton of New York, and George Washington shared these concerns and were leading proponents of the convention. Madison, in particular, arrived early and set the agenda with his document, "Vices of the Political System of the United States," which offered solutions for a stronger central government. Washington was unanimously elected president of the convention, bringing legitimacy to the gathering.

The 38 delegates (55 according to another source) to the convention, representing 12 states (Rhode Island did not send delegates), engaged in discussions, debates, and redrafts throughout the summer. They debated contentious issues such as slavery, the balance of power between the states and the central government, and the powers of the three branches of government: legislative, judicial, and executive. The final version of the Constitution was produced in early September and signed by 39 delegates on September 17, 1787.

The Constitution established a federal government with more specific powers, including conducting foreign relations, and created a model of government with checks and balances to address the issues faced under the Articles of Confederation. The ratification process for the Constitution began, with 9 of the 13 states needing to ratify for the new government to come into effect. This was achieved, and the Constitution became the basis of the United States Government, coming into effect in 1789.

38 delegates signed the Constitution

The United States Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, by 38 delegates at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This signing occurred after a four-month-long convention, during which the delegates worked to revise the existing Articles of Confederation, which had established the first national government. However, the Articles had significant weaknesses, including a lack of power for the central government to carry out essential functions, conduct diplomatic relations, and manage western territories effectively.

The 38 delegates who signed the Constitution represented 12 states, with Rhode Island being the only state that did not send any delegates. The signatories included George Washington, who was unanimously elected as the president of the convention, and Benjamin Franklin, who was the oldest signer at 81 years old. The delegates came from diverse backgrounds, with virtually every one having participated in the American Revolution, seven having signed the Declaration of Independence, and 30 having served on active military duty.

The Constitution-signing delegates were tasked with addressing the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation and creating a more effective government. In doing so, they crafted a powerful central government while also protecting the prerogatives of the states. The final document, known as the Constitution, expanded the power of the central government and included seven articles that defined the basic framework of the federal government.

The signing of the Constitution was a significant moment in American history, as it laid the framework for the nation's federal government and delineated how its three branches—the legislative, executive, and judicial—would function. The Constitution has since been amended multiple times, with the original text and all prior amendments remaining untouched. The ratification process for the Constitution was not without challenges, as only six of the 13 states initially reported a pro-Constitution majority. The Anti-Federalists opposed the Constitution due to its creation of a powerful central government and the lack of a bill of rights.

George Washington was elected president of the convention

George Washington was a central figure in the founding of the American Republic. He was involved in military matters and the issues of governance. In 1787, Washington was persuaded to attend the Constitutional Convention, also known as the Philadelphia Convention, Federal Convention, or Grand Convention at Philadelphia. The Convention met in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from May 14 to September 17, 1787. Washington was subsequently unanimously elected president of the convention.

Washington's presence at the convention was important for several reasons. Firstly, he was a respected figure who brought legitimacy to the gathering. His attendance helped calm anxieties about the future of the young nation, as people looked to him for leadership and reassurance. Washington addressed their worries and emphasised the need for a stronger federal government, which would benefit the American people.

As president of the convention, Washington played a crucial role in the crafting of the United States Constitution. He supported the idea of a document that could be amended over time to fit the nation's needs. Washington's letter of September 17, 1787, as president of the convention to the president of Congress, was attached to the Constitution whenever it was printed. In this letter, he expressed his support for the Constitution, stating that it was the result of "a spirit of amity and of that mutual deference and concession which the peculiarity of our political situation rendered indispensable." Washington's endorsement of the Constitution carried significant weight and made it challenging for Anti-Federalists to justify their opposition.

Following the convention, Washington actively worked to garner support for the ratification of the Constitution. He sent copies of the document to influential figures, including Thomas Jefferson and the Marquis de Lafayette, and to the three most recent governors of Virginia: Benjamin Harrison, Patrick Henry, and Edmund Randolph. He also wrote letters expressing his support for the Constitution, which were published in newspapers. Washington's strong backing of the Constitution convinced many to vote in favour of its ratification. By June 1789, the required nine out of thirteen states had ratified the Constitution, and by May 29, 1790, every state had followed suit.

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James Madison, a delegate from Virginia, was one of the Constitution's most fervent advocates

Madison's "Notes of Debates in the Continental Congress" served as a valuable source of information on the activities of Congress during the years leading up to the American Revolution and the plans for a new federal Constitution. He was an ardent supporter of a close alliance between the United States and France and believed in westward expansion, ensuring navigation rights on the Mississippi River. Madison also played a central role in drafting, explaining, and ratifying the Constitution, working tirelessly to defend and promote it. He collaborated with Alexander Hamilton and John Jay to write a series of essays, known as The Federalist, to turn public opinion towards ratification.

Madison's influence extended beyond the writing and ratification of the Constitution. He became a key adviser to George Washington, assisting with his inaugural address and helping to establish the three Cabinet departments. Madison also took a lead role in advocating for constitutional amendments to the Bill of Rights. He was instrumental in shaping the Virginia Plan, which offered a clear alternative to the Articles of Confederation. Madison's plan, favoring the large states and granting significant power to the federal government, set the tone for the nationalists' debate.

Madison's dedication to the Constitution and its principles is evident in his belief that direct democracy led to social decay and that a Republican government was necessary to counter partisanship and factionalism. He was troubled by laws that legalized paper money and endangered diplomatic immunity. Despite being a slaveholder, Madison appeared to recognize the evils of this institution, though he prioritized strengthening the Union over immediately addressing this issue. Overall, James Madison's contributions as a delegate from Virginia were pivotal in shaping and advocating for the Constitution, solidifying his place as one of its most fervent supporters.

The Constitution was written and signed in Philadelphia

The United States Constitution was written and signed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1787. The Constitutional Convention assembled in Philadelphia in May 1787, with delegates meeting in the State House, now known as Independence Hall. The windows of the State House were shuttered, and the delegates swore secrecy so they could speak freely. General George Washington, who had been unanimously elected president of the Philadelphia convention, presided over the Convention. The delegates, who included many of the great minds of the day, such as James Madison, James Wilson, Gouverneur Morris, and, for a while, Alexander Hamilton, were tasked with revising the existing government. However, by mid-June, they had decided to completely redesign the government.

The delegates represented wildly different interests and views, and they crafted compromises. One of the fiercest arguments was over congressional representation—whether it should be based on population or divided equally among the states. They agreed to a compromise that gave each state one representative for every 30,000 people in the House of Representatives and two representatives in the Senate. They also agreed to count enslaved Africans as three-fifths of a person and temporarily resolved the issue of slavery by deciding that the slave trade could continue until 1808.

On September 17, 1787, the delegates met one last time to conclude their business and agree on how the Constitution would be sent to the Confederation Congress to start the ratification process with the states. Benjamin Franklin, in poor health at the age of 81, wrote a speech introducing the motion for the delegates to sign the Constitution. Too weak to read the speech himself, Franklin asked James Wilson to read it for him. Franklin acknowledged in his speech that there were parts of the Constitution that he did not approve of, but he argued that no assembly of men could be expected to produce a perfect document. He concluded with a plea for all the delegates to sign the Constitution.

However, not all the delegates were willing to sign. Three dissenters, Elbridge Gerry, George Mason, and Edmund Randolph, spoke during the debate and explained why they would not sign the final document. In the end, 38 delegates signed the Constitution, with George Reed signing for John Dickinson of Delaware, who was absent, bringing the total number of signatures to 39. The delegates then shared a farewell dinner at City Tavern before leaving Philadelphia. The Constitution stands today as one of the longest-lived and most emulated constitutions in the world.

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