Reporters And The Constitution: Who Was There?

The United States Constitution was drafted during the Constitutional Convention, which took place in Philadelphia between May 25 and September 17, 1787. 55 delegates from 12 of the 13 original states attended the convention, with Rhode Island being the only state that refused to send delegates. The drafting process involved several committees, including the Committee of Detail, which presented a 23-article draft, and the Committee of Style and Arrangement, which was tasked with finalizing the draft. The final document was signed by 39 delegates and submitted to Congress for ratification. While the presence of reporters during the drafting process is not specifically mentioned, it is known that printers like John Dunlap and David Claypoole produced drafts for the Convention's delegates and that copies of the drafts were distributed.

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The Constitutional Convention

The convention was presided over by George Washington, who had been elected unanimously as its president. Washington's presence provided a sense of focus and direction, and he was able to help oversee the debate and ensure that his vision for a stronger union became a reality. Another key figure was James Madison, who was a driving force behind the convention and is often referred to as the "father of the Constitution". Alexander Hamilton, who also played a crucial role in convincing Congress to organise the convention, was part of the Committee of Style and Arrangement, which was responsible for distilling a final draft constitution from the approved articles.

The delegates to the convention were chosen by the state legislatures, and in total, 70 individuals were appointed, although only 55 attended the sessions. Of these 55, only 39 actually signed the Constitution. The delegates ranged in age from 26-year-old Jonathan Dayton to 81-year-old Benjamin Franklin, who had to be carried to sessions in a sedan chair due to his infirmity. The approved Constitution was signed by delegates from 12 states (all except North Carolina and Rhode Island, which had not yet ratified it, and New York, which did not appoint electors in time).

The drafting of the Constitution was a complex and lengthy process, involving multiple committees and numerous compromises between the interests of the different states. A Committee of Detail, composed of five members, was elected to write a first draft constitution reflective of the resolutions passed by the convention. This committee presented a 23-article (plus preamble) constitution, which was then discussed section by section and clause by clause. A Committee of Style and Arrangement, including Hamilton, was then appointed to create a final draft constitution. This committee presented a draft containing seven articles, a preamble, and a closing endorsement, of which Gouverneur Morris was the primary author. The final document was engrossed by Jacob Shallus and signed by the delegates on September 17, 1787.

The Committee of Detail

The process of drafting the U.S. Constitution, often referred to as its framing, took place at the Constitutional Convention in Independence Hall, Philadelphia, between May 25 and September 17, 1787. The Convention was attended by delegates from 12 of the 13 original states, with Rhode Island refusing to send representatives. The delegates were chosen by their respective state legislatures. The initial mandate of the Convention was to amend the Articles of Confederation, which had been the first constitution of the United States, adopted in 1777. However, it soon became clear that the Articles were highly ineffective, and delegates began considering measures to replace them.

The work of the Committee of Detail was an important step in the process of drafting the U.S. Constitution, as it took the resolutions passed by the convention and translated them into a detailed constitutional document. This draft was then refined further by the Committee of Style and Arrangement, leading to the final version that was signed by the delegates on September 17, 1787.

The Committee of Style and Arrangement

The drafting of the U.S. Constitution, often referred to as its framing, was completed at the Constitutional Convention, which assembled in Philadelphia between May 25 and September 17, 1787. The Committee of Style and Arrangement, also referred to as the Committee on Style and Arrangement, was appointed towards the end of the Constitutional Convention's discussions, on September 8, 1787. The Committee was tasked with the important job of distilling and finalising a draft constitution from the 23 approved articles that had been agreed upon by the delegates.

The work of the Committee of Style and Arrangement was crucial in ensuring that the U.S. Constitution was well-organised, coherent, and presented in a clear and concise manner. Their efforts contributed to the creation of a document that has served as the foundation of the American political system for over two centuries.

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Drafts and copies

The drafting of the US Constitution, often referred to as its framing, was completed at the Constitutional Convention, which assembled at Independence Hall in Philadelphia between May 25 and September 17, 1787. The Convention's initial mandate was to amend the Articles of Confederation, which was America's first constitution. However, the delegates soon began considering measures to replace the Articles, as they had proven ineffective in meeting the young nation's needs.

The first proposal discussed was the Virginia Plan, which called for a bicameral (two-house) Congress elected on a proportional basis based on state population, an elected chief executive, and an appointed judicial branch. An alternative to this plan was the New Jersey Plan, which called for an elected executive but retained the legislative structure.

The Committee of Detail, composed of John Rutledge, Edmund Randolph, Nathaniel Gorham, Oliver Ellsworth, and James Wilson, was selected to write the first draft of the Constitution. This committee presented a twenty-three-article (plus preamble) constitution, which was discussed section by section and clause by clause from August 6 to September 10. During this time, further compromises were effected, and a Committee of Style and Arrangement was appointed to distill a final draft constitution from the 23 approved articles.

The Committee of Style and Arrangement, composed of Alexander Hamilton, William Johnson, Rufus King, James Madison, and Gouverneur Morris, presented the completed final draft of the Constitution to the convention on September 12. This draft contained seven articles, a preamble, and a closing endorsement, of which Morris was the primary author. The committee also presented a proposed letter to accompany the constitution when delivered to Congress.

The final document, engrossed by Jacob Shallus, was taken up on September 17 at the convention's final session. The approved Constitution was signed by 39 delegates from 12 states, with Rhode Island being the only state that did not send delegates to the convention. George Washington, as president of the convention, signed first.

Signing and ratification

The drafting of the US Constitution, often referred to as its framing, was completed at the Constitutional Convention, which assembled in Philadelphia in May 1787. The Convention was held behind closed doors, with guards stationed at the entrances to ensure that onlookers were kept at a distance.

The final draft of the Constitution was presented to the convention on September 12, 1787, and it was signed by thirty-nine delegates from twelve states on September 17, 1787. George Washington, as president of the convention, signed first, followed by the other delegates, grouped by state in strict congressional voting order. One delegate, John Dickinson, was ill and not present, so he had George Read sign on his behalf. Three delegates present—Edmund Randolph, George Mason, and Elbridge Gerry—declined to sign the document.

The approved Constitution was then submitted to Congress for transmittal to the states for ratification. Ratification by 9 of the 13 states was required to enact the new government. At the time, only 6 of 13 states reported a pro-Constitution majority. The Federalists, who believed in a strong central government, needed to convert at least three states. The Anti-Federalists opposed the Constitution because it created a powerful central government and lacked a bill of rights.

The ratification campaign was hard-fought, and the "vote now, amend later" compromise helped secure victory in Massachusetts and eventually in the final holdout states. The Bill of Rights, comprising the first 10 amendments to the Constitution, was adopted by the first Congress. Articles Three through Twelve were ratified as additions to the Constitution on December 15, 1791. North Carolina became the twelfth state to ratify the Constitution in 1789, and the federal government began operations under the new form of government as members of the 1st United States Congress were seated at Federal Hall in New York City.

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