Eleanor Finch
The Preamble to the United States Constitution, beginning with the iconic words We the People, is a concise statement outlining the fundamental purposes and principles of the Constitution. The Preamble was primarily written by Gouverneur Morris, a delegate from Pennsylvania, at the 1787 Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia. The final version of the Preamble, finalised in September 1787, replaced specific state references with We the People of the United States, reflecting the birth of a united nation. This significant shift from a confederation of states to a single nation with a unified government is evident in the evolution of the Preamble's wording. The original draft, dated August 6, 1787, referred to the delegates as representatives of individual states. The Preamble, which precedes the main text of the Constitution, has been a subject of interpretation by courts to understand the intentions and motivations of the Founding Fathers.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of the first draft | 6 August 1787 |
| Date of the final draft | September 1787 |
| Author | Gouverneur Morris |
| Spelling of "defense" | "defence" |
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What You'll Learn
The Preamble was added in September 1787
The Preamble to the United States Constitution was finalised in September 1787. The Preamble is a concise introductory statement outlining the Constitution's fundamental goals and guiding principles. It was mainly written by Gouverneur Morris, a delegate from Pennsylvania to the 1787 Constitutional Convention, which was held at Independence Hall in Philadelphia. The Constitutional Convention, which lasted four months, began on May 25, 1787, with 55 delegates in attendance, including Benjamin Franklin, then 81, as the senior member. The first draft of the Constitution, with notes by Pierce Butler, was printed for the delegates in August 1787. The Preamble of the working draft and the final version differ significantly.
The final version of the Preamble, which begins with the words "We the People of the United States," reflects the birth of the idea of a united nation. This replaced an earlier vision of a confederation of states, as seen in the August 6 draft, which described the delegates as representatives of "the States of New-Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode-Island," and so on. The Preamble went through at least two drafts, with the final text being finalised in September 1787. The Preamble appears before the main text of the Constitution, which outlines the three-part system of government in the United States.
The Preamble has been interpreted by courts as evidence of the Founding Fathers' intentions and what they hoped to achieve with the Constitution. It specifies the source of the federal government's sovereignty as "the People," indicating a shift from a confederacy of states to a government of the people. The phrase "We the People" has been understood to mean "nationals and citizens," with the sovereignty of the federal government under the Constitution taking precedence over that of the individual states.
The Preamble's wording has been the subject of scrutiny, with variations in spelling and capitalisation, such as the use of "defence" with a lower-case "d" in the handwritten engrossed copy maintained in the National Archives. This variation in spelling is considered British English and differs from the standard spelling used in the rest of the document.
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The author of the Preamble was Gouverneur Morris
The Preamble to the United States Constitution, a concise and profound statement of the Constitution's guiding principles, was added to the document on September 17, 1787, during the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia. The Preamble, which begins with the famous words, "We the People," sets the tone for the entire Constitution and declares the source and purpose of the document. While the exact date of its drafting may not be certain, the authorship of this important statement has been attributed to Gouverneur Morris, a talented writer and delegate from Pennsylvania.
Morris, born in New York in 1752, was a prominent figure in the early days of the United States. He was a signer of the Constitution and is known for his significant contributions to its creation. Morris served as a delegate to the Constitutional Convention and played a key role in shaping the final document. He was a strong advocate for a powerful central government and worked diligently to ensure that the Constitution reflected his vision.
As the story goes, Morris was tasked with drafting the Preamble to the Constitution during the final days of the Convention. The Preamble was intended to introduce the Constitution and explain the purpose and principles that guided its creation. Morris' task was to capture the essence of the document and present it in a concise and powerful manner. And that he did successfully.
Morris' Preamble begins with the famous phrase, "We the People of the United States," establishing the source of the Constitution's authority in the people of the nation. It goes on to outline the purposes for which the Constitution was created, including establishing justice, ensuring domestic tranquility, providing for the common defense, promoting the general welfare, and securing the blessings of liberty for the people. These words, carefully chosen by Morris, encapsulate the core values and aspirations of the nation.
Morris' contribution to the Constitution extended beyond the Preamble. He was also instrumental in shaping other parts of the document, including the structure of the government and the powers granted to it. He is known for his elegant writing style and his ability to find compromise between the differing views of the delegates. His influence on the final version of the Constitution was significant, and his words continue to resonate today.
In conclusion, the Preamble to the Constitution, authored by Gouverneur Morris, serves as an enduring statement of the nation's founding principles and the intentions of the Framers. Morris' words have had a lasting impact on the United States, shaping its government and guiding its people for over two centuries. His contribution to the Constitution is a testament to his talent, dedication, and belief in a strong and united nation.
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The Preamble went through at least two drafts
The Preamble to the United States Constitution, beginning with the words "We the People", is an introductory statement of the Constitution's fundamental purposes and guiding principles. It was mainly written by Gouverneur Morris, a delegate from Pennsylvania to the 1787 Constitutional Convention held in Philadelphia. The Preamble sets the stage for the Constitution, clearly communicating the intentions of its framers and their purpose.
The two copies belonged to Pierce Butler of South Carolina and Benjamin Franklin of Philadelphia. The numerous handwritten entries in the columns and within the text itself on Pierce Butler’s copy indicate that the Constitution went through a number of drafts and reviews by committee. An early draft produced by the Committee of Detail in August 1787 stated: “We the people of the states of New-Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode-Island and Providence Plantations, Connecticut, New-York, New-Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North-Carolina, South-Carolina, and Georgia, do ordain, declare and establish the following constitution for the government of ourselves and our posterity.
The phrase "our posterity" is present in both drafts, indicating that the Founders were intentionally creating a structure for their families, expecting that their families would benefit from the trade-offs and compromises that would be enforced in the future. The final version of the Preamble, as we know it today, states: "We the People of the United States, in order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."
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The first draft was written in the summer of 1787
The Preamble to the United States Constitution was written in the summer of 1787. The first draft was penned by Gouverneur Morris, a Pennsylvania delegate to the 1787 Constitutional Convention held at Independence Hall in Philadelphia. The Constitutional Convention, which lasted four months, began on May 25, 1787, with 55 delegates in attendance. The delegates met in a room no bigger than a large schoolroom in Philadelphia's State House. They posted guards at the doors and windows to ensure their discussions remained confidential. They barred the press and public and vowed to keep the proceedings secret.
The first draft of the Preamble, dated August 6, 1787, stated:
> "We the People of the States of New-Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode-Island and Providence Plantations, Connecticut, New-York, New-Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North-Carolina, South-Carolina, and Georgia, do ordain, declare and establish the following Constitution for the Government of Ourselves and our Posterity."
This draft was passed unanimously by the delegates. However, the Preamble underwent significant changes after the draft Constitution was referred to the Committee of Style on September 8, 1787. The final version of the Preamble, which begins with the iconic words, "We the People," reflects the birth of the idea of a united nation. It replaced the earlier vision of a confederation of states with a single nation under a unified government.
The Preamble to the United States Constitution, finalized in September 1787, is a concise introductory statement that outlines the fundamental purposes and guiding principles of the Constitution. It sets the tone for the entire document and provides insight into the Founding Fathers' intentions and aspirations for the nation.
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The first official printed version was distributed to delegates in 1787
The United States Constitution is a significant document outlining the country's fundamental purposes and guiding principles. The process of drafting and finalising this important document was a meticulous and lengthy endeavour. The delegates to the Constitutional Convention, including the 81-year-old Benjamin Franklin, embarked on their task in May 1787, gathering in Philadelphia's State House. They conducted their proceedings in secrecy, barring the press and the public and swearing confidentiality.
The first official printed version of the Constitution, including the preamble, was distributed to the delegates in 1787. This version underwent significant changes from its working draft, reflecting the evolution of ideas during the convention. The draft preamble, dated August 6, 1787, referred to the delegates as representatives of specific states, such as "the States of New-Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode-Island," and others.
However, the final version, which began with the iconic words "We the People of the United States," signified a shift towards the concept of a unified nation. This transformation from a confederation of states to a single nation with a central government was a pivotal moment in the formation of the United States. The delegates unanimously passed this draft, recognising the need to transcend individual state identities in favour of a more cohesive national identity.
The preamble, primarily authored by Gouverneur Morris, a Pennsylvania delegate, played a crucial role in setting the tone and establishing the underlying principles of the Constitution. It provided a concise summary of the intentions and aspirations of the Founding Fathers, who sought to "form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity."
The finalisation of the preamble and the Constitution as a whole in 1787 marked a critical juncture in American history. It laid the foundation for the country's governance, replacing the earlier Articles of Confederation and establishing a three-part system of government. The delegates' meticulous work and dedication to creating a robust framework for the nation continue to resonate in the country's political and legal landscape.
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Frequently asked questions
September 1787.
Gouverneur Morris, a Pennsylvania delegate to the 1787 Constitutional Convention held in Philadelphia.
The Preamble is a brief introductory statement of the Constitution's fundamental purposes and guiding principles.
"We the People of the United States, in order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."
