How Daniel Carroll Influenced The Constitution

what did daniel carroll did for the constitution

Daniel Carroll was a Founding Father from the State of Maryland who played a significant role in the creation and ratification of the United States Constitution. Born into a wealthy Roman Catholic family, Carroll was initially prohibited from holding public office due to his religious affiliation. However, with the onset of the American Revolution, these restrictions were lifted, and Carroll embarked on a political career that saw him serve in various capacities, including as a member of the Maryland Senate and the Continental Congress. As a delegate to the Philadelphia Convention of 1787, Carroll actively participated in the debates and formulation of the Constitution, advocating for a strong central government and the limitation of its powers. Notably, he was one of the few Roman Catholics to sign the Constitution, and he subsequently defended and promoted its ratification in Maryland through his writings and public service.

Characteristics Values
Date of Birth 22 July 1730
Place of Birth Upper Marlboro, Maryland
Education College of St. Omer in France
Occupation Plantation Owner, Politician
Role in the Constitution Signed the U.S. Constitution, helped write it as a member of the Constitutional Convention, defended it in the "Maryland Journal"
Other Achievements Elected to the Maryland Senate (1777-1781), Member of the Continental Congress (1781-1783), Signed the Articles of Confederation (1781), Elected as a U.S. Representative (1789), Voted for the federal government to assume state debts and for the nation's capital to be on the Potomac River
Death 7 May 1796

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Daniel Carroll was a Founding Father and delegate from Maryland

Daniel Carroll, born on July 22, 1730, in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, was a Founding Father and delegate from Maryland. He was born into a wealthy Irish-Catholic family and was educated at the College of St. Omer in France. Upon his return to the United States, he married Eleanor Carroll, his first cousin.

During the period of British rule in Maryland, Carroll was prohibited from holding public office due to his Catholic faith. However, with the onset of the American Revolution, these restrictions were abolished, and Carroll was elected to the Maryland Senate, serving from 1777 to 1781. He played a crucial role in raising troops and funds for the American cause.

In 1781, Carroll became a member of the Continental Congress. He was one of the few Roman Catholics among the Founding Fathers and was a strong advocate for religious freedom. Carroll was a key participant in the Maryland ratification struggle of 1787–1788, during which he defended the Constitution in the "Maryland Journal." He was also a delegate to the Philadelphia Convention of 1787, which produced the Constitution. Carroll was a firm believer in the need for a strong central government to regulate commerce among the states and with other nations.

Carroll was one of the signatories of both the Articles of Confederation and the U.S. Constitution, making him one of the key figures in the founding of the United States. He went on to become one of Maryland's first U.S. Representatives, serving in the First Congress of 1789. Carroll actively participated in shaping the nation's policies, including the assumption of state debts by the federal government and the location of the nation's capital on the banks of the Potomac River.

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He was a Roman Catholic, one of two to sign the Constitution

Daniel Carroll was a Founding Father from the State of Maryland. He was born into a wealthy Roman Catholic family and was educated at the College of St. Omer in France. Upon his return to the United States, he was prohibited from holding public office due to his Catholic faith. However, when Maryland declared its independence from British rule, these laws were nullified, and Carroll was able to pursue a political career.

Carroll played a significant role in the American Revolution and served in various political positions, including in the Maryland Senate from 1777 to 1781. During this time, he helped raise troops and funds for the war effort. He was also a delegate to the Philadelphia Convention of 1787, which drafted the United States Constitution. Carroll was one of the few Roman Catholics among the Founding Fathers, and he and Thomas Fitzsimons were the only two Roman Catholics to sign the Constitution.

Carroll's presence as a signatory to the Constitution was a significant step forward for religious freedom in America. He actively contributed to the debates at the Constitutional Convention, speaking up to 20 times. He firmly believed in the importance of a strong central government to regulate commerce among the states and opposed the payment of members of Congress, arguing that it would compromise the strength of the new government. Carroll also played a crucial role in adding "to the people" to the 10th Amendment, ensuring that the government remained accountable to its citizens.

After the signing of the Constitution, Carroll continued his political career. He was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1789 and served as a United States Congressman representing Maryland. He remained involved in state and national affairs, advocating for the ratification of the Constitution in his home state through articles in local newspapers. Carroll's health declined in his later years, leading to his retirement in 1795. He passed away on May 7, 1796, at the age of 65.

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Carroll believed in a strong central government to regulate commerce

Daniel Carroll, a Founding Father from the State of Maryland, believed in a strong central government to regulate commerce. Born on July 22, 1730, in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, Carroll was a wealthy Roman Catholic. He was educated abroad in France at the College of St. Omer (today Stonyhurst College) and then moved back to Maryland in 1748.

Carroll's political career began in 1777 when he was elected to the Maryland Senate, serving until 1781. During this time, he helped the state assemble its military and raise funds to support the American Revolution. In 1781, he became a member of the Continental Congress and signed the Articles of Confederation on Maryland's behalf.

Carroll played a crucial role in the creation of the United States Constitution as a member of the Constitutional Convention in 1787. He was convinced that a strong central government was necessary to regulate commerce among the states and with other nations. He also believed that the government should be accountable to its people and fought during the Convention to achieve this. Carroll's efforts extended beyond the Convention; he actively campaigned for the ratification of the Constitution in his home state, writing articles in local newspapers in response to Anti-Federalists.

Carroll was also a strong advocate for religious freedom in America. Along with Thomas Fitzsimons, he was one of only two Roman Catholics to sign the Constitution, and he proposed replacing the words "by the legislature" with "by the people" in the Constitution, reflecting his belief in the power of the people in government.

Carroll's contributions were recognized through various appointments and roles. He served as a United States Congressman representing Maryland from 1789 to 1791 and was a key participant in the Maryland ratification struggle of 1787–1788. He was also appointed by President George Washington, a close friend, to a commission tasked with surveying and defining the District of Columbia in 1791.

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He opposed Congressional members receiving payment for their service

Daniel Carroll, a Founding Father from Maryland, played a significant role in the formation of the United States Constitution. He was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention in 1787 and actively participated in the debates, speaking up to 20 times. Carroll was a strong advocate for a robust central government to regulate commerce among the states and with other nations.

One of Carroll's notable contributions to the Constitution was his firm opposition to Congressional members receiving payment for their service. He repeatedly spoke out against the idea of compensating members of the United States Congress, arguing that such payment would compromise the strength of the newly formed government. Carroll believed that government should be accountable to its people, and he fought during the Convention to uphold this principle. He reasoned that if Congressional members were financially dependent on the state legislatures, it would sabotage the strength and independence of the new government.

Carroll's stance on this issue was driven by his belief in the importance of stable and effective government. He wanted to ensure that the government served the interests of the people and was not influenced by financial ties to the state legislatures. By opposing Congressional payment, Carroll sought to protect the integrity and longevity of the new nation's governing body.

Carroll's arguments against Congressional payment had a significant impact on the shaping of the Constitution. His ideas reflected a broader concern for fiscal and economic stability within the new government. Carroll's contributions to the Constitution extended beyond this issue, as he also played a crucial role in formulating the limitation of the powers of the federal government. He was a strong advocate for states' rights and believed that powers not specifically delegated to the federal government should be reserved for the states or the people.

After the Constitutional Convention, Carroll continued to be actively involved in state and national affairs. He campaigned for the ratification of the Constitution in Maryland, writing articles in local newspapers to defend it against Anti-Federalist arguments. Carroll's dedication to the principles of good governance and his efforts to shape the Constitution left a lasting impact on the foundation of the United States.

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Carroll was a key participant in the Maryland ratification struggle of 1787–1788

Daniel Carroll was a Founding Father from the State of Maryland. He was born on July 22, 1730, into a wealthy Irish-Catholic family. Carroll played a key role in the Maryland ratification struggle of 1787–1788.

Carroll was a strong advocate for a solid central government that could effectively manage inter-state and international commerce. He also believed that the government should be accountable to its people. In line with these beliefs, Carroll actively campaigned for the ratification of the Constitution in Maryland. Notably, he defended the Constitution in the "Maryland Journal", responding to the arguments of the well-known Anti-Federalist and Patriot delegate, Samuel Chase.

Carroll's commitment to his beliefs was evident in his opposition to the payment of members of the United States Congress. He reasoned that such compensation would undermine the strength of the new government. Carroll moved to replace the words "by the legislature" in the Constitution with "by the people", reflecting his conviction that the government should be answerable to the citizens.

Carroll was also instrumental in formulating the limitation of the powers of the federal government. He proposed that any powers not specifically delegated to the federal government should be reserved for the states or the people. This presumption was enshrined in the Constitution as a closing article, reflecting Carroll's significant influence on the founding document of the nation.

Carroll's efforts in the Maryland ratification struggle were successful, and he was subsequently elected as a representative ("congressman") to the Sixth Congressional District of Maryland in the First Congress of 1789.

Frequently asked questions

Daniel Carroll was a Founding Father from Maryland who signed the US Constitution. He was a delegate to the Philadelphia Convention of 1787, which produced the Constitution. He also helped write the Constitution as a member of the Constitutional Convention.

Daniel Carroll believed that a strong central government was needed to regulate commerce among the states and with other nations. He also believed that the government should be accountable to its people. Carroll was against the payment of members of the US Congress, reasoning that it would compromise the strength of the new government.

Carroll was one of the few Roman Catholics among the Founding Fathers. He and Thomas Fitzsimons were the only Catholics to sign the Constitution, which signalled the advancement of religious freedom in America. Carroll was also a plantation owner and a close friend of George Washington.

Carroll actively supported ratification in his home state, writing articles in local newspapers in response to anti-Federalists. He was elected to the US House of Representatives in 1789. He also served on a commission tasked with surveying and defining the District of Columbia.

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