Jonah Patel
The Constitution of the United States is the supreme law of the United States of America. It superseded the Articles of Confederation, the nation's first constitution, on March 4, 1789. The Constitutional Convention assembled in Philadelphia in May 1787, with 55 delegates in attendance, though only 39 signed the Constitution. The delegates included Jonathan Dayton, aged 26, and Benjamin Franklin, aged 81. The president of the convention was George Washington, though James Madison is known as the Father of the Constitution due to his great contributions to the formation of the new government.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of individuals appointed to the Constitutional Convention | 70 |
| Number of delegates | 55 |
| Number of signatures on the Constitution | 39 |
| Age range of delegates | 26-81 |
| Names of individuals who did not accept or could not attend | Richard Henry Lee, Patrick Henry, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Samuel Adams, and John Hancock |
| Names of some delegates | Jonathan Dayton, Benjamin Franklin, William Samuel Johnson, Gunning Bedford Jr., William L. Pierce, Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer, John F. Mercer, William C. Houston, William Blount, William R. Davie, Richard Dobbs Spaight |
| President of the Constitutional Convention | George Washington |
| Known as the "Father of the Constitution" | James Madison |
| Writer of the Constitution's final language | Gouverneur Morris |
| Date sent to the states for ratification | September 1787 |
| Number of states that needed to ratify | 9 of 13 |
| Supporters of the Constitution | Federalists |
| Opponents of the Constitution | Anti-Federalists |
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What You'll Learn
The Constitutional Convention
The founding fathers of the United States Constitution are often referred to as framers. The Constitutional Convention, which assembled in Philadelphia in May 1787, saw 55 delegates in attendance, but only 39 signed the Constitution. The framers were appointed by the original states, except for Rhode Island, and included notable figures such as George Washington, James Madison, and Benjamin Franklin.
The Constitution they drafted included an introductory paragraph, a list of seven Articles outlining the government's framework, an endorsement with the signatures of the framers, and amendments. The Preamble introduces the purposes of the new government, stating, "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..."
The first three Articles of the Constitution embody the separation of powers, dividing the federal government into three branches: the legislative, consisting of the bicameral Congress; the executive, consisting of the President and subordinate officers; and the judicial, consisting of the Supreme Court and other federal courts. The remaining Articles address concepts of federalism and the rights and responsibilities of state governments in relation to the federal government.
The framers of the Constitution played a pivotal role in shaping the foundation of the United States government and establishing the principles that continue to guide the nation today.
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The 39 framers
The Constitution of the United States is the supreme law of the United States of America. It superseded the Articles of Confederation, the nation's first constitution, on March 4, 1789. The Constitutional Convention assembled in Philadelphia in May 1787, with 55 delegates in attendance. However, only 39 individuals, known as "
The framers of the Constitution recognised the need for a stronger federal government and sought to redesign it rather than simply revise the Articles of Confederation. They grappled with contentious issues such as congressional representation and slavery, ultimately agreeing to a compromise on both fronts. The framers also set the terms for ratifying the Constitution, bypassing state legislatures and calling for special ratifying conventions in each state. This process required the support of nine out of the 13 states, and the Federalists, who advocated for a strong central government, faced opposition from Anti-Federalists.
The Constitution's introductory paragraph, known as the Preamble, sets out the purposes of the new government. It begins with the words "We the People", signifying that the government's legitimacy stems from the people rather than the states. The Constitution consists of seven Articles that define the government's framework, an untitled closing endorsement with the signatures of the 39 framers, and 27 amendments adopted under Article V.
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Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists
The Constitution of the United States is the supreme law of the United States of America. It superseded the Articles of Confederation, the nation's first constitution, on March 4, 1789. The Constitutional Convention assembled in Philadelphia in May 1787, with 55 delegates in attendance, of whom 39 signed the Constitution. The delegates included Benjamin Franklin, aged 81, who was so infirm that he had to be carried to sessions in a sedan chair, and Jonathan Dayton, the youngest delegate at 26.
The delegates at the convention are often referred to as the Founding Fathers. They debated and decided upon the framework of the new government, which included the separation of powers into three branches: the legislative, consisting of the bicameral Congress; the executive, consisting of the president and subordinate officers; and the judicial, consisting of the Supreme Court and other federal courts.
Among the Founding Fathers were Federalists and Anti-Federalists with differing views on the role of the central government. The Federalists believed that a strong central government was necessary to face the nation's challenges. They were instrumental in shaping the new Constitution, which, according to Anti-Federalists, strengthened the national government at the expense of the states and the people. The Anti-Federalists opposed the ratification of the Constitution, as it reminded them of the autocratic monarchy they had just overthrown, and because it lacked a bill of rights. However, the Anti-Federalists were not well-organized across the thirteen states, and so they had to fight the ratification at each state convention.
The Federalists and Anti-Federalists had complex and differing beliefs. The ratification campaign was a close contest, and the Federalists needed to convert at least three states to their cause. The tide turned in Massachusetts, where a "vote now, amend later" compromise helped secure victory for the Federalists. Eventually, ratification by 9 of the 13 states enacted the new government. The Anti-Federalists did succeed in forcing the first Congress under the new Constitution to establish a bill of rights to ensure the liberties they felt were violated by the original document.
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James Madison, the Father of the Constitution
The people who made the Constitution of the United States are known as the Founding Fathers. The Constitution was drafted in 1787 at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, which was attended by 55 delegates, 39 of whom signed the Constitution.
One of the most prominent Founding Fathers was James Madison, who is often referred to as the "Father of the Constitution". Madison was born in 1751 into a prominent slave-owning planter family in Virginia. He studied law and became a member of the Virginia House of Delegates and the Continental Congress during and after the American Revolutionary War. He was dissatisfied with the weak national government established by the Articles of Confederation, which was America's first constitution. Madison helped organize the Constitutional Convention, which produced a new constitution designed to strengthen the republican government against democratic assembly.
Madison played a pivotal role in drafting and promoting the Constitution. He took detailed notes on the debates at the convention, which provide a comprehensive history of the proceedings. He also collaborated with Alexander Hamilton and John Jay in publishing the Federalist Papers, which became the standard commentary on the Constitution. Madison wrote 29 out of 85 of these essays, and his influence helped secure ratification by Virginia. He was also elected to the new House of Representatives, where he sponsored the first 10 amendments to the Constitution, known as the Bill of Rights.
Madison's theories advanced the rights and happiness of man, and he devotedly served the cause of civil and political liberty. He believed in the value of a strong government in which power was well controlled and balanced among the branches. He also played a role in shaping the Three-Fifths Compromise, which counted enslaved Africans as three-fifths of a person for the purpose of congressional representation.
In addition to his contributions to the Constitution, Madison is also known for his political career. He served as the fourth president of the United States from 1809 to 1817. He was also Jefferson's secretary of state from 1801 to 1809 and helped found a major political party.
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Benjamin Franklin, the oldest delegate
The people who made the Constitution of the United States are known as the Founding Fathers. Benjamin Franklin was one of them.
Franklin was the oldest delegate to the Philadelphia Convention, aged 81. He was so infirm that he had to be carried to sessions in a sedan chair. Franklin was a Founding Father, writer, scientist, inventor, statesman, diplomat, printer, publisher, and political philosopher. He was also the first postmaster general. Franklin was born into a poor family in the Province of Massachusetts Bay and became wealthy by publishing "The Pennsylvania Gazette" and "Poor Richard's Almanack", which he wrote under the pseudonym "Richard Saunders". He was also an influential intellectual, serving as an ambassador to England and France and as governor of Pennsylvania.
Franklin played a crucial role in drafting the Declaration of Independence and the Articles of Confederation, which formed a new union. He was chosen by the Continental Congress as one of its first ministers to France, where he became the focal point of a cultural Franklin-mania among the French intellectual elite. He ultimately helped negotiate a cessation of hostilities and a peace treaty that officially ended the Revolutionary War.
Franklin was also instrumental in creating the Great Compromise. He favored a strong national government and argued that the framers should trust the judgment of the people. Despite his poor health, he missed few sessions of the Constitutional Convention, demonstrating his dedication to the formation of the United States government.
In a speech at the Constitutional Convention, Franklin expressed his reservations about the existing forms of government in Europe:
> We have gone back to ancient history for models of Government, and examined different forms of those Republics [...] And we have viewed modern States all round Europe but find none of their Constitutions suitable to our circumstances.
This quote highlights Franklin's forward-thinking approach to governance, recognizing the need to create a unique form of government suited to the American context.
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Frequently asked questions
The people who made the Constitution are known as the Founding Fathers.
55 delegates attended the Constitutional Convention sessions, but only 39 signed the Constitution.
Some of the Founding Fathers were George Washington, James Madison, and Gouverneur Morris. Benjamin Franklin, aged 81, was the oldest delegate and had to be carried to sessions in a sedan chair.
The Constitutional Convention was a gathering of delegates from the original states (except Rhode Island) to revise the Articles of Confederation, which was America's first constitution.
The Constitutional Convention assembled in Philadelphia in May 1787.
