Omar Bennett
The Framers of the Constitution met in Philadelphia between May and September of 1787. The Constitutional Convention was tasked with revising the existing government, but instead, the 55 delegates in attendance came up with a completely new framework. The delegates, who ranged in age from 26 to 81, represented diverse interests and views and crafted compromises to address the challenges facing the young nation.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year | 1787 |
| Month | May to September |
| Number of delegates | 55 |
| Age of youngest delegate | 26 |
| Age of oldest delegate | 81 |
| Average age of delegates | 42 |
| Number of delegates who signed the Constitution | 39 |
| Number of signatures on the Constitution | 38 |
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What You'll Learn
The Constitutional Convention assembled in Philadelphia in May 1787
The delegates to the convention, known as the Framers of the Constitution, recognized the need for a stronger and more effective central government. They embarked on the task of drafting a new constitution, replacing the Articles of Confederation. The Framers included prominent individuals such as George Washington, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, Benjamin Franklin, and others, who brought diverse experiences and perspectives to the table.
One of the key debates during the convention centred around congressional representation. The Framers grappled with the question of whether representation should be based on population or divided equally among the states. They ultimately reached a compromise, agreeing to allocate one representative for every 30,000 people in the House of Representatives and two representatives in the Senate for each state. They also confronted the contentious issue of slavery, agreeing to count enslaved Africans as three-fifths of a person and allowing the slave trade to continue until 1808.
The Framers' vision extended beyond addressing immediate challenges. They sought to establish enduring principles that would guide the nation into an uncertain future. This foresight is reflected in the broad language of the Constitution, which outlines fundamental freedoms, such as freedom of speech, due process of law, and equal protection of the laws. The Framers understood that future generations would need to interpret and adapt these principles to changing circumstances.
The result of the Constitutional Convention was a federal government with more defined powers, including those related to foreign relations. The Framers designed a system of checks and balances, dividing federal authority among the legislative, judicial, and executive branches. This new model of government aimed to address the weaknesses of its predecessor, providing a framework for governance that has endured for over two centuries.
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55 delegates attended the sessions, but only 39 signed the Constitution
The United States Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 39 of the 55 delegates to the Constitutional Convention representing 12 states (all but Rhode Island, which declined to send delegates) endorsed the document. The delegates' endorsement included a brief declaration that their work had been completed successfully and that those whose signatures appear on it agreed to the final document.
The delegates who attended the Constitutional Convention sessions ranged in age from Jonathan Dayton, aged 26, to Benjamin Franklin, aged 81, who was so infirm that he had to be carried to sessions in a sedan chair. The delegates included representatives and senators such as James Madison Jr., Edmund J. Randolph, Roger Sherman, Elbridge Gerry, Nicholas Gilman, Thomas Fitzsimmons, and George Clymer.
Several prominent founders did not participate in the Constitutional Convention. Thomas Jefferson was abroad, serving as the minister to France, while John Adams was in Britain, serving as the minister to that country. Patrick Henry refused to participate because he "smelt a rat in Philadelphia, tending toward the monarchy." Other absent individuals included Samuel Adams, John Hancock, and John Jay. Many of the states' older and more experienced leaders may have been too busy with local affairs to attend the convention, which had originally been planned to strengthen the existing Articles of Confederation rather than write a new constitution.
The Constitutional Convention assembled in Philadelphia in May 1787. The delegates shuttered the windows of the State House and swore secrecy so they could speak freely. Although they had gathered to revise the Articles of Confederation, by mid-June they had decided to completely redesign the government. There was little agreement on what form it would take, and one of the fiercest arguments was over congressional representation—whether it should be based on population or divided equally among the states. The framers compromised by giving each state one representative for every 30,000 people in the House of Representatives and two representatives in the Senate. They agreed to count enslaved Africans as three-fifths of a person and temporarily resolved the issue of slavery by agreeing that the slave trade could continue until 1808.
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Delegates ranged in age from 26 to 81
The Framers of the Constitution were visionaries who sought to address the specific challenges facing the nation during their lifetimes and establish foundational principles that would sustain and guide the new nation into an uncertain future. They designed the Constitution to endure, defining fundamental freedoms in general terms, such as freedom of speech, due process of law, and equal protection of the laws. The Framers also set forth governmental powers, outlining the roles of Congress, the president, and the courts.
The Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia met between May and September of 1787, with 55 delegates in attendance. These delegates ranged in age from 26 to 81. The youngest was Jonathan Dayton, aged 26, while the oldest was Benjamin Franklin, aged 81, who was so infirm that he had to be carried to sessions in a sedan chair. The average age of the delegates was 42.
The delegates were tasked with revising the Articles of Confederation, which had established a weak central government with limited powers. However, they ultimately decided to create a completely new constitution, establishing a federal government with more specific powers, including those related to conducting foreign relations. The Framers crafted a model of government that relied on a series of checks and balances, dividing federal authority between the legislative, judicial, and executive branches.
The delegates represented different interests and views, and they crafted compromises to accommodate their varying perspectives. One of the fiercest arguments was over congressional representation, which they resolved by giving each state one representative for every 30,000 people in the House of Representatives and two representatives in the Senate. They also agreed to count enslaved Africans as three-fifths of a person, temporarily resolving the contentious issue of slavery by allowing the slave trade to continue until 1808.
The Framers of the Constitution included prominent individuals such as George Washington, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, James Wilson, Gouverneur Morris, Edmond Randolph, and Roger Sherman. These men played important roles in shaping the framework for a government that has survived and been emulated for over 200 years.
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The framers compromised on congressional representation
The framers of the US Constitution met in Philadelphia in May 1787. The Constitutional Convention was tasked with revising the existing government, but the delegates ultimately decided to create a new system of government. The framers were aware of the relative political influence of the voting public and wanted to limit populist power. They were also wary of centralised power and loyal to their states, so they crafted compromises to balance these interests and views.
One of the fiercest arguments during the Constitutional Convention was over congressional representation. The delegates debated whether representation should be based on population or divided equally among the states. This was a challenging issue because the delegates represented wildly different interests and views. The framers compromised by adopting what became known as the "Great Compromise" or the "Connecticut Compromise". This plan gave each state one representative for every 30,000 people in the House of Representatives and two representatives in the Senate.
The Virginia Plan, drafted by James Madison and introduced by Edmund Randolph, proposed a bicameral national legislature with proportional representation in both houses based on the size of the state. Delegates from small states objected to this idea, while delegates from larger states argued that their greater contribution of financial and defensive resources to the nation meant they should have more influence in the central government.
The delegates also agreed to count enslaved Africans as three-fifths of a person, temporarily resolving the contentious issue of slavery. They further compromised by agreeing that the slave trade could continue until 1808.
The framers also debated the characteristics of the Senate, including the basis of representation, the number of senators per state, qualifications for office, terms of service, and the powers that the body would exercise. They agreed on six-year terms for senators, with one-third of the Senate's members to be elected or reelected every two years, in the hope that staggered elections would bring stability to the Senate and the new government.
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The Constitution came into effect in 1789
The United States Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, by 38 delegates, with George Read signing on behalf of the absent John Dickinson of Delaware, bringing the total number of signatures to 39. The Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia met between May and September 1787 to address the problems of the weak central government that existed under the Articles of Confederation. The delegates to the Convention created a model of government that relied on a series of checks and balances by dividing federal authority among the Legislative, Judicial, and Executive branches. The Framers of the Constitution were visionaries who sought to address the specific challenges facing the nation during their lifetimes and establish foundational principles to guide the new nation into an uncertain future. They recognised that future generations would be responsible for giving concrete meaning to these broad principles over time.
The Constitution that emerged from the Convention established a federal government with more specific powers, including those related to conducting relations with foreign governments. Many of the responsibilities for foreign affairs fell under the authority of an executive branch, although important powers, such as treaty ratification, remained with the legislative branch. The Framers included prominent individuals such as George Washington, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, James Wilson, Gouverneur Morris, Edmond Randolph, and Roger Sherman.
After the necessary number of state ratifications, the Constitution came into effect in 1789 and has served as the basis of the United States Government ever since. The ratification campaign was challenging, with Federalists and Anti-Federalists holding differing views on the nature of the central government. The Federalists, who believed in a strong central government, needed to convert at least three states to their cause. The Anti-Federalists, on the other hand, fought against the Constitution because it reminded them of the recently overthrown government, and it lacked a bill of rights.
The tide turned in Massachusetts, where a "vote now, amend later" compromise helped secure victory and eventually led to the Constitution's enactment. The Constitution set forth broad principles, including fundamental freedoms such as freedom of speech, due process of law, free exercise of religion, and equal protection of the laws. It also defined governmental powers, outlining the roles of Congress, the President, and the courts.
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Frequently asked questions
The framers of the constitution met in Philadelphia in May 1787.
The framers of the constitution met in the State House in Philadelphia.
55 delegates attended the Constitutional Convention sessions, but only 39 actually signed the Constitution.
The youngest framer of the constitution was Jonathan Dayton, aged 26.
The oldest framer of the constitution was Benjamin Franklin, aged 81.
