The Us Constitution: Delegates' Class And Influence

The delegates of the US Constitution were a diverse group of individuals with varied backgrounds and experiences. The Constitutional Convention, also known as the Federal Convention or the Philadelphia Convention, brought together 55 delegates from different states, with the average age being 42. The delegates included lawyers, politicians, military leaders, and revolutionaries, such as George Washington, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and Gouverneur Morris. The delegates had differing political views, with some being strong nationalists while others advocated for state sovereignty. They debated various issues, including the role of the executive, slavery, and the balance of power between the state and central governments, ultimately creating a new system of government with three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial.

Explore related products

The Constitution of the United States and The Declaration of Independence

$1.99 $6.95

Constitution of the United States and The Declaration of Independence: Senator Rand Paul, Delegates of The Constitutional Convention

$2.99 $2.99

Constitution of the United States: US Constitution, Declaration of Independence, Bill of Rights with Amendments. Pocket Size

$8.99 $2.79

The Constitution of the United States of America: The Declaration of Independence, The Bill of Rights

$9.99 $9.99

The Constitution of the United States

$1.5

Constitution of the United States (Books of American Wisdom)

$9.25 $9.95

The average age of the delegates was 42, ranging from 26 to 81

The Constitutional Convention, also known as the Federal Convention or the Philadelphia Convention, was held in Philadelphia from May 25 to September 17, 1787. 55 delegates attended the sessions, but only 39 signed the Constitution. The average age of the delegates was 42, ranging from 26 to 81. Jonathan Dayton was the youngest delegate at 26, while Benjamin Franklin, at 81, was the oldest. Franklin was so infirm that he had to be carried to the sessions in a sedan chair.

The delegates were tasked with debating and drafting improvements to the existing Articles of Confederation, which governed the United States as a federation of independent republics. However, once the convention began, most delegates agreed that the goal would be to create a new system of government rather than simply revise the existing Articles.

The convention was a significant event in American history, as it led to the ratification of the Constitution of the United States. The delegates debated several broad outlines, including Madison's Virginia Plan and William Paterson's New Jersey Plan. They ultimately selected the Virginia Plan as the basis for the new government, agreeing on a federal government with three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial.

The role of the executive was a highly debated topic, including the question of whether to vest power in a single chief executive or divide it among three people. Other issues discussed included the length of a presidential term, the impeachment process, and the inclusion of a fugitive slave clause. The final version of the Constitution was produced in early September and signed by the delegates, marking a pivotal moment in the formation of the United States government.

Four key players were in their 30s: Alexander Hamilton, Edmund Randolph, Gouverneur Morris, and James Madison

The delegates of the US Constitution came from a variety of backgrounds, from lawyers to military aides, and ranged in age from 26 to 81. Four key players were in their 30s: Alexander Hamilton, Edmund Randolph, Gouverneur Morris, and James Madison.

Alexander Hamilton was 30 years old when he served as one of New York's delegates at the Constitutional Convention. Hamilton was no fan of the Articles of Confederation, which he saw as a weakness from Washington's struggles with Congress during his time as aide-de-camp in the Revolutionary War. Hamilton's plan for a new form of government was not adopted, but he still played a role in creating and ratifying the Constitution. He collaborated with James Madison and John Jay on the Federalist Papers, a collection of 85 articles and essays promoting the ratification of the Constitution.

Edmund Randolph, 34 at the time, was a delegate from Virginia to the Constitutional Convention. He introduced the Virginia Plan as an outline for a new national government, which included a proposal for a bicameral legislature with delegates chosen based on state population. Randolph also proposed the establishment of a national judiciary, which was unanimously supported by the convention's delegates and became Article III of the Constitution. However, Randolph ultimately refused to sign the final document, believing it lacked sufficient checks and balances and that the federal judiciary would threaten state courts.

Gouverneur Morris, 35 years old at the time of the Constitutional Convention, was highly influential in creating the language and structure of the Constitution. He served on two central committees: the "Committee of Style and Arrangement," which was charged with editing the final text and details, and the "Committee on Postponed Parts," which crafted solutions to challenging problems like the selection of the presidency. Morris was a skilled orator, giving 173 speeches during the Convention, more than any other member. He is known for changing the preamble language to "We, the People", and his contributions earned him the nickname "Penman of the Constitution."

James Madison, 36, took an active part in the debates at the Constitutional Convention. He collaborated with Hamilton and Jay on the Federalist essays, which were instrumental in the ratification of the Constitution. Madison is often referred to as the "Father of the Constitution" for his contributions to its structure and philosophical foundations. He developed the system of divided powers and checks and balances that makes the United States government unique.

Many delegates were educated, with over half being college graduates

The Constitutional Convention, contemporarily known as the Federal Convention, the Philadelphia Convention, or the Grand Convention at Philadelphia, was attended by 55 delegates, 39 of whom signed the Constitution. The delegates ranged in age from 26-year-old Jonathan Dayton to 81-year-old Benjamin Franklin. The average age of the delegates was 42, with four of the most influential—Alexander Hamilton, Edmund Randolph, Gouverneur Morris, and James Madison—being in their thirties.

Many of the delegates were highly educated, with over half being college graduates. Nine of the college graduates were from Princeton, and six were from British universities. Many of the delegates had also gained political experience prior to the convention: eight had signed the Declaration of Independence, 25 had served in the Continental Congress, 15 had helped draft new state constitutions between 1776 and 1780, and 40 had served in the Confederation Congress between 1783 and 1787.

Gouverneur Morris, for example, had served in the Continental Congress in the late 1770s and was one of the youngest and most intellectually impressive delegates. By 1781, he was working as an assistant to the superintendent of finance for the United States during the Revolution. At the Philadelphia Convention, he spoke more often than any other delegate.

James Madison, often referred to as the "father of the Constitution", was another highly educated delegate. He played a key role in drafting the first constitution for New York State and served as a member of the New York Supreme Court in the 1790s. Madison came to the convention well-prepared for all arguments against the creation of a new government. After the Constitution was signed, he wrote the Federalist Papers with Alexander Hamilton and John Jay, a collection of 85 essays explaining the significance of the Constitution to persuade states to ratify it.

Explore related products

The Constitution of the United States and The Declaration of Independence pack of 25 booklets

$36.99 $50

Pocket Constitution (Text from the U.S. Bicentennial Commission Edition) by Delegates of the Constitutional Convention (2005-01-01)

$23

Constitution of the United States: US Constitution, Declaration of Independence, Bill of Rights with Amendments

$19.99

Pocket Constitution (Text from the U.S. Bicentennial Commission Edition) (Edition 2) by Delegates of the Constitutional Convention [Paperback(2005£©]

$11.94

The Men Who Made the Constitution: Lives of the Delegates to the Constitutional Convention

$69.5 $89.1

The Constitution of the United States

$4.99 $5.54

Most delegates initially intended to revise the Articles of Confederation

The Constitutional Convention, also known as the Federal Convention, the Philadelphia Convention, or the Grand Convention at Philadelphia, took place in Philadelphia from May 25 to September 17, 1787. The convention was initially intended to revise the Articles of Confederation, which was the first constitution of the United States. The Articles of Confederation were adopted by the Continental Congress on November 15, 1777, and ratified by all states in 1781. Under the Articles, the United States was a federation of independent republics, with each state guaranteed sovereignty and independence. The Confederation Congress, a unicameral legislature, had limited powers and could not levy taxes or tariffs.

Most of the 55 delegates who attended the Constitutional Convention sessions did not arrive intending to draft a new constitution. Many assumed that the convention's purpose was to discuss and draft improvements to the existing Articles of Confederation. However, once the convention began, most delegates came to agree that the goal would be to create a new system of government, not simply revise the Articles. Several broad outlines were proposed and debated, including Madison's Virginia Plan and William Paterson's New Jersey Plan. The Virginia Plan was selected as the basis for the new government, and the delegates quickly reached a consensus on a general blueprint for a federal government with three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial.

The role of the executive was also hotly debated, including issues such as whether to vest power in a single chief executive (the President) or divide it among three people, how a president would be elected, the length of a presidential term, and what offenses should be impeachable. Slavery was also a contentious issue, with delegates debating the insertion of a fugitive slave clause, the abolition of the slave trade, and whether slaves should be counted in proportional representation. After three months of highly charged debate, the new Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, and remains in effect today.

55 delegates attended, but only 39 signed the Constitution

The Constitutional Convention, contemporarily known as the Federal Convention, the Philadelphia Convention, or the Grand Convention at Philadelphia, was held from May 25 to September 17, 1787. The convention was attended by 55 delegates, but only 39 signed the Constitution.

The delegates were appointed by the original states, except Rhode Island, which did not send any delegates. 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 convention was initially intended to revise the Articles of Confederation and devise the first system of federal government. However, proponents of the convention, including James Madison of Virginia and Alexander Hamilton of New York, sought to create a new system of government rather than revise the existing one. The delegates debated several broad outlines, including Madison's Virginia Plan and William Paterson's New Jersey Plan. The Virginia Plan was selected as the basis for the new government, and the delegates agreed on a general blueprint of a federal government with three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial.

The role of the executive was also hotly debated, including issues such as whether to divide executive power among multiple people or vest it in a single chief executive, how a president would be elected, the length of a presidential term, and what offenses should be impeachable. Slavery was also a contentious issue, with delegates debating the insertion of a fugitive slave clause, the abolition of the slave trade, and whether slaves should be counted in proportional representation.

Frequently asked questions