Malcolm Rivera
The United States Constitution was written by 55 delegates to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, during the summer of 1787. These delegates were elected by the states to revise the Articles of Confederation, the country's first written constitution. The Constitution is the supreme law of the United States and has been amended 27 times, most recently in 1992. While there were many contributors to the Constitution, James Madison is often referred to as its Father. Alexander Hamilton and John Jay also played key roles in drafting the document, and Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, Roger Sherman, and Gouverneur Morris are also considered key figures in the creation of the Constitution.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of individuals who wrote the Constitution | 55 |
| Number of individuals who signed the Constitution | 39 |
| Age range of individuals | 26 to 81 |
| Names of individuals | James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, Gouverneur Morris, George Washington, Roger Sherman, Benjamin Franklin, James Wilson, John Rutledge, Edmund Randolph, Nathaniel Gorham, Oliver Ellsworth |
| Nicknames | James Madison is often called the "Father of the Constitution" |
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What You'll Learn
The Founding Fathers
Other notable Founding Fathers include Benjamin Franklin, the oldest delegate at 81, whose wisdom and diplomacy helped bridge gaps between differing factions; George Washington, who presided over the convention and was elected as its president; Roger Sherman, who helped bridge the gap between smaller and larger states; and James Wilson, who played a key role in shaping the final provisions related to the judiciary.
While these individuals made significant contributions, it is important to recognise that the Constitution was a collaborative effort, with all 55 delegates bringing diverse ideas, experiences, and backgrounds, leading to the compromises and debates that shaped this enduring cornerstone of American governance.
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The Committee of Detail
The United States Constitution, the supreme law of the United States of America, superseded the Articles of Confederation, the nation's first constitution, on March 4, 1789.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 Constitution was signed by 39 of the 55 delegates on September 17, 1787, and went into effect after being ratified by conventions in nine states.
The Constitution of the United States establishes a federal government with three branches: the legislative, executive, and judicial. It also guarantees certain rights to all citizens, such as freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and the right to due process of law. The main authors of the Constitution were James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay, who were all delegates to the convention and played a leading role in drafting the document.
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The Framers
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. Franklin's wisdom and diplomacy helped bridge gaps between differing factions and contributed to the compromises necessary for the Constitution's success.
The Constitutional Convention was held in secrecy, with windows shuttered so that the delegates could speak freely. They fiercely argued over congressional representation, with the framers ultimately compromising by giving 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.
While there were 55 delegates in total, only 39 signed the Constitution. Some of the key figures who played a leading role in drafting the document and are considered framers of the Constitution include James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay. Madison is often called the "Father of the Constitution" due to his extensive contributions to the drafting process, including writing the Virginia Plan, which served as the basis for much of the Constitution. Hamilton, a passionate advocate for a strong central government, played a major role in shaping the Constitution's executive branch. John Jay, a lawyer and diplomat from New York, was a strong advocate for a federal system of government and helped draft Article III, which establishes the judicial branch.
Other important figures who contributed to the framing of the Constitution include Roger Sherman, who helped bridge the gap between smaller and larger states, and James Wilson, who played a key role in shaping the final provisions related to the judiciary. George Washington, who presided over the convention and was elected its president, and Gouverneur Morris of Pennsylvania, who coined the opening words "We the People", are also considered framers of the Constitution.
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The Federalists
The United States Constitution was the result of the collaborative efforts of numerous delegates who attended the Constitutional Convention in 1787. These delegates brought with them a diverse array of ideas, experiences, and backgrounds, which led to the compromises and debates that shaped the Constitution. The Constitution is a fundamental document of American democracy.
The Anti-Federalists, on the other hand, fought against the Constitution. They believed that the powerful central government it created reminded them of the one they had just overthrown, and they also objected to the lack of a bill of rights.
The Federalist Papers, written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay, were a series of essays defending the Constitution and calling for the revision of the Articles of Confederation. Hamilton, Madison, and Jay are often emphasized as key figures in the creation of the Constitution, along with other important delegates such as Roger Sherman and James Wilson.
The Constitution of the United States is the supreme law of the country and has been amended 27 times, most recently in 1992. It establishes a federal government with three branches: the legislative, executive, and judicial. It also guarantees certain rights to all citizens, such as freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and the right to due process of law.
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The Anti-Federalists
The name "Anti-Federalists" was imposed upon the movement by their opponents, the Federalists, and was supposed to mark them as men who "stood against the very political ideas they embraced". The Federalists were, as a whole, better organized and connected. Writing under the pen name of Publius, Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay wrote a series of 85 powerful newspaper essays known as The Federalist Papers. To combat the Federalist campaign, the Anti-Federalists published a series of articles and delivered numerous speeches against the ratification of the Constitution. These independent writings and speeches have come to be known collectively as The Anti-Federalist Papers.
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Frequently asked questions
The people who wrote the constitution are often referred to as the Founding Fathers.
Some of the Founding Fathers who wrote the constitution include James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, George Washington, and Benjamin Franklin.
39 of the 55 delegates who attended the Constitutional Convention signed the constitution. However, the creation of the constitution was a collaborative effort, and many other delegates contributed significantly to its drafting.
