Eleanor Finch
The United States Constitution 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 It superseded the Articles of Confederation, the nation's first constitution, on March 4, 1789.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 Constitution was created by 55 delegates who came together to make small changes to their current government, but ultimately ended up creating a new one. The delegates ranged in age from 26-year-old Jonathan Dayton to 81-year-old Benjamin Franklin. Each of these men brought specific ideas about the role of government in the new nation, and parts of each individual's ideas were taken and put together to create the constitution. Some of the key contributors to the Constitution were George Washington, James Madison, George Mason, Roger Sherman, William Paterson, and James Wilson.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Leadership | George Washington's leadership united the delegates and the new nation behind the idea of a new federal government. |
| Vision | Washington's vision for a stronger union helped guide the debate and shape the final document. |
| Driving force | James Madison, the "father of the Constitution", was a driving force behind the convention. |
| Legislative representation | Roger Sherman proposed the "Connecticut Compromise" or "Great Compromise", which balanced the interests of large and small states. |
| Safeguarding small states | William Paterson helped author the New Jersey Plan, which attempted to protect the rights of small states. |
| Executive power | James Wilson desired a single executive with absolute veto power over laws created by the legislature. |
| Bill of Rights | George Mason advocated for the need for a bill of rights, and Madison wrote the first 10 amendments. |
| Influence | Washington's influence helped carry the government, as noted by James Monroe. |
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What You'll Learn
- George Washington's leadership united delegates and the nation
- James Madison, the 'father of the Constitution', wrote the first 10 amendments adopted by Congress
- Roger Sherman's 'Great Compromise' balanced sectional interests
- William Paterson's New Jersey Plan safeguarded small states' rights
- George Mason pushed for the Bill of Rights, though he didn't sign the Constitution
George Washington's leadership united delegates and the nation
Washington's leadership was instrumental in fostering an atmosphere that encouraged compromise and collaboration. He managed conflicts between individual states and ensured that the delegates could work together despite their differing political ideologies. As the president of the convention, Washington played a pivotal role in shaping the direction of the nation by guiding the delegates towards a unified vision. His influence extended beyond the convention, as his support for the Constitution carried significant weight with the public.
Washington's reputation as a military leader and his popularity among the people contributed to his unifying influence. His decision to return his commission to Congress at the end of the Revolution set a precedent that the military serves the nation and its civilian government. This act demonstrated his commitment to the principles of civilian rule and helped establish a tradition of military subordination to elected authorities. Washington's leadership during the war and his subsequent actions reinforced his image as a symbol of unity and strength.
Additionally, Washington's contributions as the first president of the United States under the new Constitution further united the nation. He appointed federal officials, including the first members of the Supreme Court, with prudence and wisdom, ensuring geographic representation, support for the Constitution, and relevant experience. Washington's leadership in establishing a functioning federal government strengthened the unity and stability of the nation.
Washington's influence extended beyond his official roles, as his private letters also played a role in shaping public opinion. His correspondence expressed his desire to see the Constitution adopted, acknowledging its imperfections but praising the amendment provision. These letters became a subject of debate between Federalists and Antifederalists, with both sides using his words to support their causes. Washington's support for the Constitution, expressed in his letters and through his signature, carried weight with the public and encouraged acceptance of the document.
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James Madison, the 'father of the Constitution', wrote the first 10 amendments adopted by Congress
James Madison is widely regarded as the Father of the Constitution. He was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States and played a significant role in the creation of the nation and the early development of American constitutional government.
In the years leading up to the 1787 Constitutional Convention, Madison recognised the need for a stronger central government and a more structured framework to unite the 13 independent states. He spent time studying political philosophy and past attempts at republican forms of government, which influenced his thinking. At the convention, Madison proposed the Virginia Plan, also known as the large-state Plan, which provided the basic framework and guiding principles for the Constitution. This earned him acclaim as the "Father of the Constitution".
Madison also contributed to the Federalist Papers, a series of pro-ratification newspaper articles published under the pseudonym "Publius". Federalist No. 10, authored by Madison, advocated for representative democracy and became highly regarded for its defence of private rights and the public good in a large republic.
Following the Constitutional Convention, Madison continued to play an active role in shaping the Constitution. He was elected to the House of Representatives, where he sponsored the first 10 amendments, commonly known as the Bill of Rights. These amendments enshrined freedoms such as freedom of religion, speech, and the press. While Madison initially opposed the inclusion of a Bill of Rights, he recognised its political importance and played a key role in compiling and refining the proposals that emerged from the states' ratification debates.
Madison's contributions extended beyond the writing and ratification of the Constitution. He also helped establish a balanced central government, a working taxation system, and a standing military. His influence extended to foreign policy, as he served as Secretary of State under President Thomas Jefferson and oversaw the Louisiana Purchase.
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Roger Sherman's 'Great Compromise' balanced sectional interests
Roger Sherman's Great Compromise, also known as the Connecticut Compromise, was an agreement reached during the Constitutional Convention of 1787. It defined the legislative structure and representation each state would have under the United States Constitution.
The Compromise was proposed by Sherman, Connecticut's delegate to the Constitutional Convention, and established a two-house legislature. It was a solution to the heated debate between larger and smaller states over their representation in the newly proposed Senate. The larger states, like Virginia, advocated for legislative voting based on proportional representation, while smaller states demanded equal representation of each state in the new congress.
Sherman's compromise proposed a dual system of representation. In the House of Representatives, each state's number of seats would be proportional to its population. In the Senate, all states would have the same number of seats, with each state having two members. This balanced sectional interests by assuring small states of access to more seats in the Senate, while the House of Representatives was given the power to originate all legislation dealing with the federal budget and revenues/taxation.
The Compromise was a modified form of the Virginia Plan, which had proposed a bicameral legislature with membership in both houses allocated to each state proportional to its population. The Great Compromise was included in the Constitution, partly because the larger states disliked the Virginia Plan. Benjamin Franklin also modified Sherman's proposal to make it more acceptable to the larger states, adding the requirement that revenue bills originate in the House.
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William Paterson's New Jersey Plan safeguarded small states' rights
The United States Constitution is a historic document that outlines the rights and responsibilities of the government and the people. It was created by 55 delegates, including William Paterson, who played a significant and respected role in the events that led to the formation of the United States.
William Paterson, a senator, governor of New Jersey, and Supreme Court Justice, is known for his contribution to the Constitution through the New Jersey Plan. This plan was introduced to counter the more nationalistic Virginia Plan and aimed to safeguard the rights of small states. Paterson and other small-state delegates proposed a unicameral legislature, where each state would have equal representation in Congress, regardless of their population. This equal representation reflected the belief that the states were independent entities, having entered the United States freely and individually.
Paterson strongly opposed plans for proportional representation, fearing that the interests of small states would be overlooked. He argued that he would "rather submit to a Monarch, to a despot, than to such a fate." The New Jersey Plan also sought to expand the powers of the Congress of the Confederation, granting it additional authority in areas such as raising funds, regulating interstate commerce, and commerce with other nations.
The New Jersey Plan was debated for three days before ultimately being rejected, with seven states voting against it, three in favour, and one divided. Despite the plan's rejection, Paterson's ideas were not entirely dismissed. Aspects of his proposal, particularly regarding the representation of small states, were incorporated into the Connecticut Compromise, also known as the Great Compromise, proposed by Roger Sherman. This compromise suggested that each state would have proportional representation in the House of Representatives while maintaining equal representation in the Senate.
William Paterson's contributions extended beyond the New Jersey Plan. He is also remembered for his belief in "rational liberty," which balanced liberty with law, order, and peaceful progress. Additionally, he supported the finished product of the Constitutional Convention, including an independent federal judiciary and the supremacy of acts of Congress. Paterson's early work helped shape American institutions and contributed to the distinctive feature of federalism in the American constitutional system.
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George Mason pushed for the Bill of Rights, though he didn't sign the Constitution
George Mason was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention in 1787, his only lengthy trip outside of his home state of Virginia. Although he was one of only three delegates not to sign the Constitution, he played a unique role in its creation.
Mason was concerned about the amount of power given to the federal government and the convention's reluctance to end the slave trade. He believed that the document drafted gave too much power to a central government and was incomplete without a bill of rights to guarantee individual liberty. He also objected to the Constitution on the grounds that it did not adequately protect US citizens without a Bill of Rights.
Mason's refusal to sign the new Constitution cost him dearly, as he lost the friendship of George Washington and others. His refusal also cost him his rightful place in the annals of history to some extent, as he is sometimes referred to as the "Forgotten Founder", uncredited for originating much of the language later incorporated in both the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights.
Despite this, Mason's efforts to ensure the protection of individual rights ultimately came to fruition with the passage of the federal Bill of Rights on December 15, 1791, providing the first ten amendments to the Constitution. Thomas Jefferson, a friend and contemporary of Mason, said: "The fact is unquestionable, that the Bill of Rights, and the Constitution of Virginia, were drawn originally by George Mason, one of our greatest men, and of the first order of greatness." Supreme Court Associate Justice Sandra Day O'Connor agreed, stating that "George Mason's greatest contribution to present-day Constitutional law was his influence on our Bill of Rights".
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Frequently asked questions
George Washington, James Madison, Roger Sherman, William Paterson, and James Wilson are considered to be key contributors to the US Constitution.
George Washington was unanimously elected as the president of the Constitutional Convention. His presence provided a sense of focus and direction to the convention. He helped forge consensus and demanded complete secrecy as the delegates worked on the controversial task of scrapping the Articles of Confederation.
James Madison, also known as the "father of the Constitution", was a driving force behind the convention. After the Constitution was signed, he wrote the Federalist Papers with Alexander Hamilton and John Jay to explain its significance and persuade states to ratify it. He also contributed to the Constitution by writing the first ten amendments, known as the Bill of Rights.
Roger Sherman proposed the Connecticut Compromise or Great Compromise, which resolved the conflict between large and small states by proposing proportional representation in the House of Representatives and equal representation for each state in the Senate. William Paterson authored the New Jersey Plan, which aimed to safeguard the rights of small states by calling for equal representation in Congress. James Wilson advocated for a single executive with absolute veto power over laws created by the legislature.
