The Framers: Architects Of The Us Constitution

The group that wrote the Constitution of the United States, known as the Founding Fathers, were a group of late-18th-century American revolutionary leaders who united the Thirteen Colonies, oversaw the War of Independence from Great Britain, and established the United States of America. The group was made up of 55 delegates, including merchants, farmers, bankers, and lawyers, many of whom had served in the Continental Army, colonial legislatures, or the Continental Congress. The delegates, also known as the framers of the Constitution, assembled in Philadelphia in May 1787, and while they had initially gathered to revise the Articles of Confederation, they soon decided to completely redesign the government.

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The Founding Fathers

The Constitution was drafted at the Constitutional Convention, which assembled at Independence Hall in Philadelphia between May 25 and September 17, 1787. The delegates to the convention were chosen by the state legislatures of 12 of the 13 original states; Rhode Island refused to send delegates. The convention's initial mandate was limited to amending the Articles of Confederation, but the delegates soon began considering measures to replace them.

The delegates, also known as the "framers" of the Constitution, were a well-educated group that included merchants, farmers, bankers, and lawyers. Many had served in the Continental Army, colonial legislatures, or the Continental Congress. Eight delegates were signers of the Declaration of Independence, while six had signed the Articles of Confederation.

Several individuals played key roles in the creation of the Constitution. General George Washington, the nation's first president, was unanimously elected president of the Constitutional Convention. James Madison, often referred to as the "Father of the Constitution," was a driving force behind the convention and wrote the first 10 amendments that were adopted by the first Congress. Alexander Hamilton, a lawyer and politician from New York, called for a constitutional convention and presented his own plan of government, which included a strong executive and a senate with members serving for life. James Wilson contributed his desire for a single executive with absolute veto power, which led to the establishment of the electoral college. Gouverneur Morris was the chief architect of the Constitution.

In addition to these key players, other Founding Fathers who were involved in the nation's formation include Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Samuel Adams, John Jay, and John Hancock.

The Constitutional Convention

The convention's initial purpose was to revise the Articles of Confederation, which had been ratified in 1781 and gave Congress the power to govern foreign affairs, conduct war, and regulate currency, but lacked enforcement powers and the ability to collect taxes, regulate commerce, pay the national debt, conduct diplomatic relations, or manage western territories. However, the delegates quickly decided to completely redesign the government, considering measures such as a bicameral (two-house) Congress, an elected chief executive, and an appointed judicial branch.

One of the fiercest arguments at the convention was over congressional representation, with delegates debating whether it should be based on population or divided equally among the states. A compromise was reached, with each state receiving one representative for every 30,000 people in the House of Representatives and two representatives in the Senate. The issue of slavery also threatened to derail the proceedings, but a temporary resolution was found by allowing the slave trade to continue until 1808.

The Federalists

The US Constitution was drafted by a group of delegates, also known as the "framers", at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in 1787. The group consisted of 55 delegates, including merchants, farmers, bankers, and lawyers, many of whom had served in the Continental Army or colonial legislatures.

Among the key players in the group were George Washington, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay. Washington, who was unanimously elected president of the convention, oversaw the debates and helped shape the vision of a stronger union. Madison, often referred to as the "father of the Constitution", played a driving role in the convention and later wrote "The Federalist Papers" with Hamilton and Jay. These 85 essays, published under the pseudonym Publius, explained the significance of the Constitution and sought to persuade states to ratify it. Hamilton, a lawyer and politician from New York, presented his own plan for government, calling for a strong executive and a senate with members serving for life. Madison and Hamilton, along with Jay, also wrote a series of essays to advocate for the ratification of the Constitution.

Other notable contributions to the convention included James Wilson's argument for a single executive with absolute veto power, which led to the establishment of the electoral college, and William Paterson's New Jersey Plan, which sought to safeguard the rights of small states by granting them equal representation in Congress. Benjamin Franklin, at 81, was the oldest delegate, while the majority of the delegates were in their 30s and 40s.

The group of delegates, or framers, worked for four months in Philadelphia, engaging in fiery and intense debates over the form of the new government. The final Constitution was presented to the convention on September 12, 1787, and was ratified by 9 of the 13 states, with the support of the Federalists, who believed in a strong central government.

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The Anti-Federalists

The arguments of the Anti-Federalists influenced the formation of the Bill of Rights. The first ten Amendments introduced were referred to as the Bill of Rights, consisting of 10 amendments that were added to the Constitution in 1791.

The Bill of Rights

The group that wrote the US Constitution is often referred to as its 'framers'. They were delegates from 12 of the 13 original states, chosen by their respective state legislatures. The only state that refused to send delegates was Rhode Island. The framers assembled at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, between May 25 and September 17, 1787.

The US Constitution was a group effort, but the bulk of the document can be credited to Founding Father James Madison. Alexander Hamilton and John Jay also contributed by writing a series of essays, known as 'The Federalist', to persuade people to ratify the Constitution.

The US Constitution was written to replace the Articles of Confederation, which had proven ineffective in meeting the young nation's needs. The Articles gave the Confederation Congress the power to make rules and request funds from the states, but it had no enforcement powers, couldn't regulate commerce, or print money. The states' disputes over territory, war pensions, taxation, and trade threatened to tear the country apart.

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