Eleanor Finch
The US Constitution was written by 55 delegates to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, during the summer of 1787. The delegates were elected by the states to revise the Articles of Confederation, the country's first written constitution. However, the Articles were deemed fundamentally flawed, and the delegates decided to create an entirely new document. The drafting of the Constitution was a long and challenging process, with delegates disagreeing on many key issues. While there was no single author, James Madison is often referred to as the Father of the Constitution due to his extensive contributions, including drafting the Virginia Plan, which served as the basis for much of the Constitution. Other key authors include Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, and Gouverneur Morris.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of authors | 55 |
| Popularly known as | The Founders |
| Names of authors | James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, William Samuel Johnson, Rufus King, Gouverneur Morris, and others |
| Nicknames | Madison is often called the "Father of the Constitution" |
| Author of the Bill of Rights | James Madison |
| Author of the final draft | Gouverneur Morris |
| Scribe | Jacob Shallus |
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What You'll Learn
James Madison: The 'Father of the Constitution'
The authors of the United States Constitution are collectively referred to as the Founders. This group of American leaders played a pivotal role in the American Revolution and the founding of the United States. Among the Founders, several individuals are often credited with writing the Constitution, including James Madison, George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, and Alexander Hamilton. However, James Madison is particularly renowned and acclaimed as the "Father of the Constitution".
James Madison, born on March 16, 1751, was an American statesman, diplomat, and Founding Father. He served as the fourth president of the United States from 1809 to 1817. Madison played a pivotal role in drafting and promoting the Constitution of the United States and the Bill of Rights. He was a strong advocate for a strong and well-balanced government, believing that power should be controlled and distributed among the branches of government.
Madison's contributions to the Constitution began with his involvement in the Constitutional Convention of 1787. He was instrumental in organizing this convention, which aimed to create a new constitution to strengthen republican government against democratic assembly. Madison's Virginia Plan, also known as the large-state Plan, provided the basic framework and guiding principles of the Constitution. It proposed the separation of powers between different branches of government and emphasized the importance of controlling and balancing power to protect individual liberties.
In addition to his role in the Constitutional Convention, Madison was also a key author of The Federalist Papers, a series of essays written in collaboration with Alexander Hamilton and John Jay. These essays were designed to build public support for the Constitution and provide arguments in favor of its adoption. Madison's influence was significant, and he played a crucial role in securing ratification by Virginia. He also sponsored the first ten amendments to the Constitution, known as the Bill of Rights, which further protected civil and political liberties, including freedom of religion, speech, and press.
Madison's influence extended beyond the writing and ratification of the Constitution. He was also actively involved in shaping the early development of the nation. Madison's theories advanced the rights and happiness of individuals, and he dedicated his efforts to the cause of civil and political liberty. He was also instrumental in founding a major political party and served as Jefferson's secretary of state before becoming the fourth president of the United States.
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Alexander Hamilton: Advocate for a strong federal government
The authors of the US Constitution are often referred to as the "Founders". This group of men included James Madison, George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, and Alexander Hamilton, among others. Hamilton, a delegate from New York, was one of the most outspoken advocates for a strong federal government. He believed that the United States needed a powerful central government to successfully address the needs of the nation.
Hamilton's vision for a strong federal government was shaped by his experiences. In 1783, a group of disgruntled soldiers from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, sent Congress a petition demanding their back pay. When they marched towards Philadelphia, Hamilton was tasked with intercepting the mob. However, his request for militia support was denied, and the mob made their way to Philadelphia. Frustrated by the weakness of the national government, Hamilton drafted a call to revise the Articles of Confederation, which served as the foundation for the future Constitution. He envisioned a strong federal government with the ability to collect taxes and raise an army.
Hamilton continued to advocate for a strong national government throughout his career. He played a key role in shaping the Constitution as a member of the Committee of Style and Arrangement, which was appointed to distill a final draft constitution from the approved articles. He also authored 51 of the 85 installments of The Federalist Papers, a series of essays written in support of the Constitution's adoption. In these papers, Hamilton argued that the federal government, under the new Constitution, would be able to act directly upon the citizens of the states to regulate the common concerns of the nation, which he believed was essential to preserving the union. He also developed the concept of "implied powers," which allowed the federal government to take actions in support of the Constitution that were not explicitly spelled out in it.
Hamilton's vision for a strong federal government was challenged by those who favoured strong state governments, such as Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. They denounced Hamilton as insufficiently devoted to republicanism and too oriented towards cities, industry, and banking. Despite this opposition, Hamilton's ideas ultimately prevailed, and his vision of a strong national government organizing economic life became a hallmark of political and economic life in the twentieth century.
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John Jay: Lawyer and diplomat from New York
The authors of the US Constitution are often referred to as the "Founders". This group of men included James Madison, George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, and Alexander Hamilton, among others. Hamilton, a delegate from New York, was a key author of The Federalist Papers, which he wrote alongside Madison and John Jay.
John Jay (1745–1829) was a lawyer and diplomat from New York. He was born into a wealthy family of merchants and government officials and became a lawyer in 1768, establishing his own legal practice in New York. He was a prominent member of the New York Committee of Correspondence, which allowed the colonies to trade political ideas and information. Through this work, he was selected as a delegate to the First Continental Congress in 1774.
Jay initially believed that reconciliation with Great Britain was possible and preferable, so he retired from the Continental Congress in 1776 rather than sign the Declaration of Independence. However, once the Declaration was signed, he became a strong supporter of independence. He represented New York at the Second Continental Congress in 1778, where he was elected president. During the Revolutionary War, he served as Minister (Ambassador) to Spain, seeking diplomatic recognition for the new United States, financial support, and a treaty of alliance and commerce. In 1782, he was in Paris for negotiations to end the war, where he worked alongside Benjamin Franklin.
Jay was appointed Secretary of Foreign Affairs (now known as Secretary of State) in 1784. During his time in this role, he became convinced that the US needed a stronger central government than outlined by the Articles of Confederation. He actively pursued ratification of the US Constitution in New York and co-authored The Federalist Papers to build public support for the Constitution. In 1789, George Washington appointed Jay as the first Chief Justice of the new Supreme Court. As an experienced negotiator, Jay was tasked with resolving outstanding issues between the US and Great Britain, resulting in the "Treaty of Amity, Commerce, and Navigation", commonly referred to as the "Jay Treaty".
Jay also served as the second governor of New York from 1795 to 1801. He was an important leader of the Federalist Party after the ratification of the US Constitution in 1788.
There was also a lawyer and diplomat named John Jay (1817–1894) who was active in the anti-slavery movement. He was the grandson of the above John Jay and served as the United States Minister to the Austria-Hungary Empire from 1869 to 1875. He represented numerous fugitive slaves in court and helped several gain freedom.
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Benjamin Franklin: One of the 'Founders'
The authors of the US Constitution are often referred to as the Founding Fathers, or simply, the Founders. These were a group of American leaders who participated in the American Revolution and were instrumental in the founding of the United States. Benjamin Franklin was one such Founding Father.
Franklin was a publisher, entrepreneur, and diplomat. He is well-known for his sayings or "proverbs" that appeared in Poor Richard's Almanack and his newspaper, the Pennsylvania Gazette. Franklin is also known for his involvement with the Declaration of Independence and the Constitutional Convention.
Franklin was 81 years old when he closed the Constitutional Convention with the following words:
> I confess that there are several parts of this constitution which I do not at present approve, but I am not sure I shall never approve them: For having lived long, I have experienced many instances of being obliged by better information, or fuller consideration, to change my opinions.
Franklin's last known letter was written to Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson, in which he responded to an inquiry about a boundary dispute involving an area between the Bay of Fundy in Canada and Maine. Franklin died at the age of 84 in Philadelphia on April 17, 1790.
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George Washington: Another of the 'Founders'
The authors of the US Constitution are often referred to as the "Founders". This group of American leaders participated in the American Revolution and were instrumental in the founding of the United States.
George Washington, another of the "Founders", was instrumental in the creation of the American nation. Washington's career as a soldier, revolutionary, constitution-maker, and chief executive of a new nation demanded a diverse range of skills and talents.
Washington was involved in the issues of governing and played a significant role in the drafting and ratification of the Constitution. He was elected unanimously to preside over the Constitutional Convention in 1787, where he worked to forge consensus among the delegates. Washington's commanding presence and influence were crucial in achieving the outcome of the Convention.
Washington, a nationalist, believed in the need for a strong national government and a union of the states. He supported the adoption of the Constitution, as evidenced by his private letters and his signature on the document. Federalists used Washington's image and support to promote ratification, arguing that a virtuous figure like him endorsed the plan.
Washington's role as the first president under the new Constitution further highlights his significance. The delegates assumed he would become the first executive, and this influenced their proposals for strong executive powers. Washington's achievements as commander-in-chief during the Revolution and his subsequent role in shaping the nation's government transformed the ideals of the Revolution into reality.
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Frequently asked questions
There was no single author of the US Constitution. It was written by 55 delegates to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, during the summer of 1787.
Some of the notable authors include James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay. James Madison is often referred to as the "Father of the Constitution" due to his extensive contributions to the drafting process.
James Madison proposed the Virginia Plan, which served as the foundation for the Constitution. He also played a crucial role in crafting the Bill of Rights, which were amendments added to protect individual rights and limit federal power.
Alexander Hamilton advocated for a strong central government and played a significant part in shaping the executive branch. John Jay, a lawyer and diplomat, was instrumental in drafting Article III, which establishes the judicial branch.
