Wealthy Men: The Economic Status Of Constitution Framers

The 55 delegates who attended the Constitutional Convention in 1787 were a diverse group, with a range of economic backgrounds and interests. The majority of them had served in the military during the Revolution and had experience in colonial or state government. Many had also been members of the Continental Congress, and some had even signed the Declaration of Independence. While the average age of the delegates was 42, the youngest delegate, Jonathan Dayton, was 26, while the oldest, Benjamin Franklin, was 81. The delegates represented a range of political views, from Federalists to anti-Federalists, and came from different regions of the country, with the exception of Rhode Island, which did not send any delegates. The economic interests of the delegates varied as well, with some owning slaves and others focused on issues like taxation and the role of central versus state governments.

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The delegates were young and experienced, with an average age of 42

The 55 delegates who attended the sessions of the Constitutional Convention, also known as the Founding Fathers, were both young and experienced. The average age of the delegates was 42, with ages ranging from 26-year-old Jonathan Dayton to 81-year-old Benjamin Franklin, the latter of whom had to be carried to sessions in a sedan chair due to his infirmity. Four of the most influential delegates, Alexander Hamilton, Edmund Randolph, Gouvernor Morris, and James Madison, were in their thirties.

The delegates were well-educated, with over half holding college degrees, including nine from Princeton and six from British universities. They also had significant political experience, with many having served in the Continental Congress during the Revolution and some having held positions in the Continental forces, colonial or state governments, and as state governors. Additionally, a few had signed the Declaration of Independence and helped draft new State Constitutions.

The delegates came from different economic backgrounds, with some being referred to as "lawyers, and men of learning and moneyed men." At least a third of them owned slaves, including all of the delegates from Virginia and South Carolina. The Southern delegates were particularly protective of the institution of slavery, as it formed the basis of their region's agrarian economy.

The delegates' economic class was not the only factor that influenced their views; their regional and local interests and loyalties also played a role. For example, the delegates from Southern states had different priorities than those from the North, which is evident in their willingness to compromise on the Fugitive Slave Clause in exchange for concessions on "navigation acts."

The majority of the delegates had served in the Continental Congress

The 55 delegates who attended the sessions of the Constitutional Convention came from a range of economic backgrounds. The majority of the delegates had served in the Continental Congress, which was initially a convention of delegates from several British American colonies during the American Revolution. The term mainly refers to the First Continental Congress of 1774 and the Second Continental Congress of 1775-1781. The Continental Congress served as the chief legislative and executive body of the US government during this period.

The First Continental Congress was attended by 56 delegates, while the Second Continental Congress was attended by delegates from various colonies. The Continental Congresses included merchants, lawyers, judges, politicians, military officers, planters, farmers, and architects. Some delegates, like George Washington, had served in the Continental Congress or fought against the British in the American Revolution.

The delegates to the Constitutional Convention included George Washington, Robert Morris, Alexander Hamilton, and Patrick Henry, who refused to attend, suspecting the creation of a powerful central government. The majority of the delegates were aware of the prevalent enmity towards royalty and the privileged classes due to the recent revolutionary war. They knew that there was widespread opposition to the establishment of a monarchy.

The delegates represented different states, and their economic backgrounds varied. Some were from wealthy backgrounds, while others may have had more modest means. However, it is important to note that the specific economic details of each delegate's background are not readily available. Nonetheless, their collective experience in the Continental Congress and their understanding of the political climate shaped their contributions to the Constitutional Convention.

Some delegates owned slaves, and many supported the slave trade

The 55 delegates who attended the sessions of the Constitutional Convention came from a range of economic backgrounds. The delegates included wealthy individuals, such as Robert Morris of Pennsylvania, who was known as the "financier" of the Revolution, and George Mason of Virginia, who owned hundreds of slaves. There were also younger delegates like the 26-year-old Jonathan Dayton, whose specific economic backgrounds are not as well-documented.

While the economic class of the delegates varied, it is important to note that some of them owned slaves, and many supported the slave trade. The issue of slavery was a highly controversial topic during the Constitutional Convention. Some delegates, like George Mason, spoke out against slavery, arguing that it discouraged arts, manufactures, and labour, corrupted slaveholders, and brought divine punishment upon the country.

However, the framers of the Constitution believed that concessions on slavery were necessary to gain the support of southern delegates for a strong central government. They were convinced that if the Constitution restricted the slave trade, states like South Carolina and Georgia would refuse to join the Union. As a result, the Constitution included provisions that temporarily strengthened slavery. For example, it prohibited Congress from outlawing the Atlantic slave trade for 20 years and included a fugitive slave clause requiring the return of runaway slaves to their owners.

The Three-Fifths Compromise, which was part of the great compromise approved by the convention, also played a significant role in the election of 1800, highlighting the impact of concessions on slavery in shaping the early political landscape of the nation. While the Constitution created a central government with the power to eventually abolish slavery, the sidestepping of the issue during the Constitutional Convention left seeds for future conflict.

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Some delegates were lawyers, men of learning, and moneyed men

The 55 delegates who attended the sessions of the Constitutional Convention, also known as the Founding Fathers, were considered to be from the privileged classes. They were well-educated, with over half of them having graduated from college, including nine from Princeton and six from British universities. The average age of the delegates was 42, with the youngest being 26-year-old Jonathan Dayton and the oldest being 81-year-old Benjamin Franklin. Franklin was so infirm that he had to be carried to the sessions in a sedan chair.

The delegates came from various professional backgrounds, with the majority (around 75%) having been members of the Confederation Congress, and many having been members of the Continental Congress during the Revolution. Several had served as state governors, and almost all had taken part in the Revolution, with at least 29 having served in the Continental forces, most in positions of command.

Some of the delegates were lawyers, such as James Madison Jr., who was a leading spokesman for the Federalists. The anti-Federalists, on the other hand, were led by men with regional and local interests and loyalties, and they attacked the Federalists on several fronts, including the lack of a bill of rights, direct taxation, and the loss of state sovereignty.

In addition to lawyers, there were also men of learning and moneyed men among the delegates. Robert Morris of Pennsylvania, for example, was known as the "financier" of the Revolution. The presence of these individuals suggests that the convention was dominated by those with wealth and influence, which may have influenced the outcome of the proceedings.

The delegates were largely state-centred men with regional interests and loyalties

The 55 delegates who attended the sessions of the Constitutional Convention, also known as the Founding Fathers, were considered the Framers of the Constitution. However, only 39 of them signed the Constitution. The delegates were appointed by the original states, except Rhode Island, which refused to send delegates as its leaders saw the convention as a conspiracy to overthrow the established government. The average age of the delegates was 42, with the youngest being 26-year-old Jonathan Dayton and the oldest being 81-year-old Benjamin Franklin.

The delegates were also influenced by their experiences during the revolutionary period, which shaped their views on royalty and the privileged classes. They were aware of the prevalent enmity towards royalty and the upper classes, as reflected in Royall Tyler's play, "The Contract". This influenced the debate on the specific of the new government, with some, like Alexander Hamilton, having to accept a less prominent role for themselves.

The delegates' regional interests and loyalties were particularly evident in their positions on slavery. At least a third of the delegates owned slaves, and the Southern delegates were unwilling to accept any proposals that threatened the institution of slavery, which was the backbone of the South's agrarian economy. This resulted in agreements between northern and southern delegates, such as empowering Congress to end the slave trade starting in 1808 and strengthening the Fugitive Slave Clause.

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