Malcolm Rivera
South Carolina played an important role in the American Revolution and the development of the United States. When the government of the new United States was being laid out in the Constitution, South Carolina sent four representatives to the Constitutional Convention: Pierce Butler, Charles Pinckney, Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, and John Rutledge. In total, 55 delegates attended the Constitutional Convention sessions, but only 39 signed the Constitution.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of signers from South Carolina | 4 |
| Names of the signers | Pierce Butler, Charles Pinckney, Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, and John Rutledge |
| John Rutledge's role | Governor of South Carolina |
| Number of delegates at the convention | 55 |
| Number of delegates who signed the Constitution | 39 |
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What You'll Learn
- John Rutledge, a former governor of South Carolina, signed the US Constitution
- Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, born into wealth and privilege, was another signer
- Charles Pinckney, a cousin of Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, also signed the document
- Pierce Butler, a representative of South Carolina, signed the Constitution
- delegates, including four from South Carolina, signed the Constitution
John Rutledge, a former governor of South Carolina, signed the US Constitution
Rutledge served in the First and Second Continental Congresses until 1776. In that year, he was elected president of South Carolina under a constitution drawn up on March 26, 1776. As president, he organised the new government and prepared defences against British attacks. He ordered the construction of Fort Sullivan (now Fort Moultrie) on Sullivan's Island in Charleston Harbour. Rutledge served as president until 1778, when he resigned due to his disagreement with the new state constitution.
In 1779, Rutledge was elected governor of South Carolina. During his tenure, he successfully repelled a British attack on Charleston in 1776 and suppressed a Cherokee uprising. However, when the British captured Charleston in 1780, Rutledge escaped and functioned as a one-man government in exile. He sought additional aid for South Carolina and worked with the Continental Army to organise and supply the state's militia.
In 1787, Rutledge was selected to represent South Carolina at the Philadelphia Convention, which produced the United States Constitution. He served as chairman of the Committee of Detail, which created the first full draft of the Constitution. Rutledge advocated for a national government with increased but limited powers and a Congress composed of gentlemen relatively independent of public opinion. He also supported the division of society into classes as a basis for representation and proposed high property qualifications for holding office.
After the Constitutional Convention, Rutledge continued to play a role in shaping South Carolina's political landscape. He participated in the state's convention to ratify the Constitution and promoted its adoption. In 1789, he was appointed as one of the inaugural associate justices of the US Supreme Court, serving until 1791 when he became chief justice of the South Carolina Court of Common Pleas and Sessions.
John Rutledge's signature on the US Constitution is a testament to his influential role in shaping the foundation of the United States and his commitment to representing the interests of South Carolina.
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Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, born into wealth and privilege, was another signer
Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, born in Charleston, South Carolina, in 1746, was the son of Charles Pinckney, who later served as the chief justice of South Carolina, and Eliza Lucas, a celebrated planter and agriculturalist. Pinckney was born into wealth and privilege as a member of the planter class. His family's social status and connections provided him with opportunities that shaped his future success.
Pinckney received a privileged education, primarily in England, where he attended Westminster School and studied law at Middle Temple. He also spent time in France, studying botany and law at the Royal Military College in Caen. This well-rounded education laid the foundation for his future career in public service and law.
Upon returning to South Carolina in 1769, Pinckney was admitted to the bar and began practising law in Charleston. He quickly rose through the ranks, becoming deputy attorney general for several towns. In 1770, he was elected to the colonial legislature, and in 1773, he served as a regional attorney general. Pinckney's legal career and political connections set him on a path toward influencing the shaping of his nation.
As an American soldier, statesman, and diplomat, Pinckney played a prominent role in the American Revolution. He served as an aide to General George Washington and participated in the battles of Brandywine and Germantown in 1777. Pinckney's military service and political connections positioned him as a key figure in the early years of the United States.
In addition to his military and legal accomplishments, Pinckney was a significant figure in the realm of politics and diplomacy. He was a member of the Constitutional Convention of 1787, where he advocated for a strong national government with a system of checks and balances. Pinckney's influence extended beyond his home state, as he played a crucial role in securing the ratification of the Federal Constitution in the South Carolina convention of 1788. His ideas and arguments helped shape the foundation of the United States and its governing principles.
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Charles Pinckney, a cousin of Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, also signed the document
South Carolina sent four representatives to the Constitutional Convention: Pierce Butler, Charles Pinckney, Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, and John Rutledge. Charles Pinckney, a cousin of Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, also signed the document. Pinckney was born in 1757 into a prominent family. His father signed an oath of loyalty to the British during the Revolution, allowing him to keep his property safe. Upon his father's death, Pinckney inherited the family's plantations and properties. He soon became politically active as tensions between the colonies and Britain increased in the 1760s.
Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, on the other hand, was born in 1746 and was a member of the planter class from South Carolina. He practiced law for several years and was an advocate of a stronger national government. He served as a delegate to the 1787 Philadelphia Convention, which wrote a new federal constitution. Pinckney's influence helped ensure that South Carolina ratified the United States Constitution. He also served as United States Minister to France from 1796 to 1797 and was involved in the XYZ Affair, a diplomatic incident with France.
Both cousins played a significant role in shaping the Constitution and the early political landscape of the United States. Charles Pinckney's political activism during a time of colonial tensions and his inheritance of family properties likely positioned him as a key figure in the Constitutional Convention. Meanwhile, Charles Cotesworth Pinckney's legal background, advocacy for a stronger federal government, and influence in South Carolina's ratification process made him a notable contributor to the founding of the nation.
The Constitutional Convention, which took place in 1787, brought together 55 delegates, including Charles Pinckney and Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, to shape the foundation of the United States government. Of the 55 delegates, only 39 signed the Constitution, and they ranged in age from 26 to 81. The convention was a pivotal moment in the nation's history, as it laid out the framework for the government of the new United States. The participation and contributions of Charles Pinckney and Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, along with the other delegates, helped establish the principles and ideals upon which the country would be governed.
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Pierce Butler, a representative of South Carolina, signed the Constitution
Pierce Butler was one of four representatives from South Carolina who signed the US Constitution. Born in Ireland, Butler moved to South Carolina in 1773, becoming one of the wealthiest landowners and slaveholders in the South. He served in the British Army and resigned his commission prior to the Revolutionary War, aiding the American cause during the conflict.
Butler was a delegate to the Continental Congress in 1787 and a member of the Federal Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in the same year. He was one of seven immigrants to sign the Constitution, doing so at the age of 43. He later returned to South Carolina, where he was elected as a US Senator, serving from 1789 to 1796.
As a delegate to the US Constitutional Convention, Butler compiled an archive of 26 documents, including the printed first and second drafts of the Constitution, two small notebooks of proceedings, and copies of various plans for state representation in Congress. These documents provide a unique view of the conflicts that arose during the convention and the process of creating the Constitution.
Butler is known for proposing the Fugitive Slave Clause at the Convention on August 29, 1787. He advocated for a strong national government and played a prominent role in framing South Carolina's constitution. He also boasted about the Fugitive Slave Act, which he saw as a protection of planters' rights.
After losing his Senate seat, Butler moved to Philadelphia in 1805, where he spent his remaining years. He died in 1822 and was buried in the North Garden of Christ Church in Philadelphia.
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39 delegates, including four from South Carolina, signed the Constitution
The US Constitution, which was signed on September 17, 1787, was a document created to replace the Articles of Confederation. Of the 55 people who attended the Constitutional Convention, only 39 delegates signed the document. Four of these delegates were from South Carolina: Pierce Butler, Charles Pinckney, Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, and John Rutledge.
The four South Carolina delegates were highly influential men who played a significant role in shaping how America would function. They were wealthy, white, educated men born into privilege and were connected to others of high status. As such, they had a vested interest in creating laws that benefited them and their class, allowing them to maintain and expand their wealth and influence.
John Rutledge, for example, advocated for a strong national government and played a prominent role in framing South Carolina's constitution. He served as the first governor of South Carolina independent from Great Britain and was a strong supporter of slavery. Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, cousin of Charles Pinckney, was also born into wealth and privilege. He received his education in England and France before returning to South Carolina to establish a successful law practice.
The South Carolina delegates also added the Fugitive Slave Clause to the Constitution during the Constitutional Convention. This clause further protected slavery by requiring that enslaved people be returned to their states of labor. The inclusion of this clause demonstrates the influence of the South Carolina delegates and their commitment to upholding slavery.
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Frequently asked questions
Four.
The four signers were Pierce Butler, Charles Pinckney, Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, and John Rutledge.
These men were all wealthy, white, and educated. They were born into privilege and were connected to others of high status.
John Rutledge maintained a moderate nationalist stance and chaired the Committee of Detail. The South Carolina delegates added the Fugitive Slave Clause to the Constitution, requiring that enslaved people be returned to their states of labour. Charles Pinckney advocated against ending the transatlantic slave trade and in favour of enslaved people counting toward a state's population.
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