Crafting The Constitution: A Collaborative Effort

The US Constitution was signed by 39 delegates on September 17, 1787, though 41 were present and 55 attended the convention sessions. The original 13 states collectively appointed 70 individuals to the convention, but some did not accept or could not attend. The delegates were tasked with revising the existing government but ultimately created a new one. The Constitution superseded the Articles of Confederation, the nation's first constitution, on March 4, 1789.

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70 delegates were chosen, 55 attended

The United States Constitution, the supreme law of the United States of America, superseded the nation's first constitution, the Articles of Confederation, on March 4, 1789. The original thirteen states, except Rhode Island, collectively appointed 70 individuals to the Constitutional Convention in 1787. The convention assembled in Philadelphia in May of 1787, with the delegates swearing secrecy so they could speak freely.

A number of these individuals did not accept or could not attend, including Richard Henry Lee, Patrick Henry, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Samuel Adams, and John Hancock. In total, 55 delegates attended the Constitutional Convention sessions, with the delegates ranging in age from Jonathan Dayton, aged 26, to Benjamin Franklin, aged 81, who was so infirm that he had to be carried to sessions in a sedan chair.

The delegates were tasked with revising the existing government, but they ended up creating a completely new one. Representing wildly different interests and views, they crafted compromises. The delegates agreed to count enslaved Africans as three-fifths of a person, and the slave trade could continue until 1808. One of the fiercest arguments was over congressional representation—whether it should be based on population or divided equally among the states. The framers compromised by giving each state one representative for every 30,000 people in the House of Representatives and two representatives in the Senate.

When it came time to sign the Constitution, 38 of the 41 delegates present became signatories. George Mason, Edmund Randolph, and Elbridge Gerry refused to sign, while John Dickinson, who was absent, authorised another delegate, George Read, to sign for him. In the end, there were 39 signers of the Constitution.

39 delegates signed the Constitution

The United States Constitution, the supreme law of the United States of America, superseded the Articles of Confederation, the nation's first constitution, on March 4, 1789. The Constitutional Convention assembled in Philadelphia in May 1787, with 55 delegates in attendance out of 70 chosen representatives. However, it is believed that there were never more than 46 delegates present at any one time. When the Constitution was signed, there were 39 signatories, including George Read, who signed on behalf of John Dickinson of Delaware, who was absent.

The delegates came from all the original states except Rhode Island. Notable delegates included the youngest, 26-year-old Jonathan Dayton, and the oldest, 81-year-old Benjamin Franklin, who had to be carried to sessions in a sedan chair due to his infirmity. The delegates represented diverse interests and views, and their task was to revise the existing government. However, they ended up creating a new form of government, establishing a powerful central government.

Several key players had significant roles in the creation of the Constitution. George Washington, unanimously elected as the president of the Constitutional Convention, provided a sense of focus and direction. James Madison, known as the "father of the Constitution," was a driving force behind the convention. Roger Sherman proposed the "Connecticut Compromise" or "Great Compromise," addressing legislative voting representation. James Wilson favoured a single executive with absolute veto power, directly elected by the people.

The process of creating and signing the Constitution involved intense debates and compromises. One of the fiercest arguments was over congressional representation, with large states advocating for proportional representation and smaller states demanding equal representation. The delegates also grappled with the issue of slavery, agreeing to count enslaved Africans as three-fifths of a person and allowing the slave trade to continue until 1808. The Anti-Federalists opposed the Constitution due to its resemblance to the overthrown government and the lack of a bill of rights. Despite these challenges, the Constitution was ratified by 9 of the 13 states, with the "vote now, amend later" compromise playing a crucial role in securing victory.

Key players: George Washington, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton

The US Constitution was signed by 39 delegates on September 17, 1787, marking the end of four months of intense debate. George Washington, James Madison, and Alexander Hamilton were key players in its creation.

George Washington was elected convention president by the 55 state delegates who gathered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1787. He worked to forge consensus, demanding complete secrecy as the delegates embarked on the controversial task of revising the Articles of Confederation. Washington's commanding presence and influence were crucial in achieving the final outcome.

James Madison, often referred to as the intellectual leader, played a significant role in the creation of the Constitution. He had previously served as a Virginia delegate to the Continental Congress and kept detailed notes on the debates and activities that led to the plans for a new federal Constitution. Madison was also a prime author of The Federalist—a series of newspaper and pamphlet articles written in collaboration with Alexander Hamilton and John Jay to promote ratification of the Constitution. Madison recognized the political imperative of drafting a Bill of Rights, and his leadership in the First Federal Congress led to the inclusion of the first ten amendments, now known as the Bill of Rights.

Alexander Hamilton, a delegate from New York, played a somewhat limited role in creating the Constitution. He proposed his own form of government, which was not adopted. However, he was instrumental in the Constitution's ratification process. Hamilton collaborated with Madison and Jay on the Federalist Papers, a collection of 85 articles and essays written under the pseudonym "Publius" to promote ratification. Hamilton wrote more than 50 of these essays, while Madison contributed fewer than 20.

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Others involved: Gouverneur Morris, Benjamin Franklin

The US Constitution was signed by 38 delegates on September 17, 1787, with an additional signature by George Reed on behalf of the absent John Dickinson of Delaware, bringing the total number of signatures to 39. However, several others were involved in the process of making the Constitution, including Gouverneur Morris and Benjamin Franklin.

Gouverneur Morris, a Founding Father of the United States, played a significant role in shaping the language and structure of the Constitution. He was a delegate from Pennsylvania to the Constitutional Convention in 1787 and served on two central committees: the Committee of Style and Arrangement, and the Committee on Postponed Parts or the Committee of Eleven. Morris is credited with authoring the final version of the preamble, including the famous phrase, "We the People of the United States." He was an outspoken opponent of slavery and argued for religious freedom and a strong central government. Morris also gave the most speeches at the Convention, with a total of 173, showcasing his oratorical abilities.

Benjamin Franklin, another Founding Father, was 81 years old when he closed the Constitutional Convention with a memorable quote. Despite having reservations about certain parts of the Constitution, Franklin ultimately supported it, believing that it was necessary for the country and that no better alternative could be expected from an assembly of men with their prejudices and passions. Franklin's last great quote, reflecting on the Constitution and life, was recorded in a letter to French scientist Jean-Baptiste Le Roy in November 1789, where he wrote, "Our new Constitution is now established, everything seems to promise it will be durable; but, in this world, nothing is certain except death and taxes."

Both Gouverneur Morris and Benjamin Franklin made significant contributions to the creation and adoption of the US Constitution. Morris focused on crafting the language and structure, while Franklin provided a critical perspective and offered his wisdom and support at the Convention's conclusion. Their involvement, along with that of the delegates who signed the document, helped shape the foundation of the United States government.

Anti-Federalists: George Mason, Edmund Randolph, Elbridge Gerry

The US Constitution was signed by 38 delegates, bringing the total number of signatures to 39. The delegates represented wildly different interests and views, and some of them were Anti-Federalists.

Anti-Federalists

The Anti-Federalists fought against the Constitution because it created a powerful central government, reminding them of the one they had just overthrown. It also lacked a bill of rights.

George Mason

George Mason was an Anti-Federalist who led a group of Anti-Federalists that drafted amendments. He believed that the convention would not ratify the document without demanding amendments. Mason's "Objections to this Constitution of Government" was among the most influential Anti-Federalist works, despite being published without his permission. In it, he criticized the pardon power, which he thought the president would use corruptly, and the federal judiciary, which he warned would lead to suits in federal courts by citizens against states in which they did not live.

Edmund Randolph

Edmund Randolph was a Founding Father of the United States, an attorney, and the seventh Governor of Virginia. He helped create the national constitution while serving on its Committee of Detail. Randolph introduced the Virginia Plan as an outline for a new national government. He argued for a strong central government and proposed a bicameral legislature with delegates chosen based on state population. However, Randolph later abandoned the Anti-Federalist cause, damaging the efforts of Mason and Henry to coordinate with their counterparts in New York.

Elbridge Gerry

Elbridge Gerry was a Founding Father, merchant, politician, and diplomat who served as vice president. He regularly advocated for the maintenance of civilian control of the military and was initially opposed to the idea of political parties. Gerry refused to sign the Constitution because it did not originally include a Bill of Rights. He was a member of a diplomatic delegation to France that was treated poorly in the XYZ Affair, leading Federalists to hold him responsible for a breakdown in negotiations. Gerry then became a Democratic-Republican, running for Governor of Massachusetts several times before winning the office in 1810.

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