Isabella Carter
The first draft of the United States Constitution was written on August 6, 1787, by the Committee of Detail, composed of John Rutledge, Edmund Randolph, Nathaniel Gorham, Oliver Ellsworth, and James Wilson. The drafting of the Constitution began on May 25, 1787, when the Constitutional Convention met for the first time at the Pennsylvania State House in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Constitutional Convention was called to revise the Articles of Confederation, which gave the Confederation Congress the power to make rules and request funds from the states, but lacked enforcement powers and could not regulate commerce or print money. The first draft of the Constitution consisted of a preamble and twenty-three articles, and it was distributed to each member of the Convention for study. The final version of the Constitution was signed and adopted on September 17, 1787, and the ratification process ended when the final state, Rhode Island, ratified it on May 29, 1790.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | August 6, 1787 |
| Location | Philadelphia |
| Presented by | Committee of Detail Chairman Rutledge (SC) |
| Written by | James Wilson (PA) |
| Number of articles | 23 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| Number of signatures | 39 |
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What You'll Learn
The Constitutional Convention of 1787
The convention was preceded by growing concerns about the ineffectiveness of the Articles of Confederation in addressing pressing issues such as state debts, economic depression, and domestic unrest, including Shays' Rebellion (1786-1787). On May 14, 1787, delegates from only two states were present, postponing the official start of the convention until May 25 when a quorum of seven states was achieved. James Madison of Virginia, who had arrived early, played a significant role in setting the convention's agenda with his document, "Vices of the Political System of the United States," which critically analysed the American political system and proposed solutions.
The convention was marked by intense debates and deliberations. The delegates grappled with contentious issues such as slavery, the balance of power between the central government and the states, representation in Congress, and the structure of the legislative, judicial, and executive branches. The convention also addressed foreign policy challenges, granting the executive branch, led by the President, the authority to conduct foreign relations and manage treaty ratification.
On August 6, 1787, the Committee of Detail, chaired by John Rutledge of South Carolina, presented the first draft of the Constitution. This draft consisted of a preamble and twenty-three articles, covering topics such as the structure of Congress, the executive and judiciary branches, interstate relations, and the admission of new states. The delegates adjourned to study the draft, and the convention reconvened after a ten-day recess.
The final version of the Constitution emerged in early September, distilled by the Committee of Style and Arrangement, with Gouverneur Morris making significant contributions. On September 17, 1787, the delegates voted in favour of the Constitution, and 39 of the 55 delegates signed the document, including George Washington, the convention's president. The Constitution was then sent to the states for ratification, with eleven states ultimately ratifying it, establishing a new form of government for the United States.
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The Committee of Detail
The drafting of the US Constitution began on May 25, 1787, when the Constitutional Convention met for the first time at the Pennsylvania State House in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Constitutional Convention had been meeting for over two months when, on July 24, 1787, the Committee of Detail was established to put down a draft text reflecting the agreements made by the convention up to that point. The committee was chaired by John Rutledge and included Edmund Randolph, Nathaniel Gorham, Oliver Ellsworth, and James Wilson.
The committee referenced state constitutions, the Articles of Confederation, plans submitted to the convention, and other available material. They also drew from models of Classical Antiquity and the British governmental tradition of mixed government. The Declaration of Independence acted as an important guide for its summation of ideals of self-government and fundamental human rights. The writings of European political philosophers such as Montesquieu and John Locke also influenced the committee.
The committee's goal was to create a balanced government of checks and balances to serve the long-term interests of the people of an independent nation. Wilson's draft included the first attempt at what would become the preamble in the final document. The committee added numerous provisions that the convention had never discussed but were not likely to be controversial. For example, Wilson modified the list of enumerated powers by adding the necessary and proper clause and strengthening the supremacy clause. These changes set the final balance between the national and state governments that would be part of the final document.
The committee's report, which became the first draft of the constitution, was the first workable constitutional plan. The convention accepted the first draft of the Constitution on August 6, 1787. However, the committee continued to meet until early September, making further changes. The draft constitution received the unanimous approval of the state delegations, and the Constitution was signed and adopted on September 17, 1787. The ratification process for the Constitution began that day and ended when the final state, Rhode Island, ratified it on May 29, 1790.
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The first draft
The drafting of the United States Constitution began on May 25, 1787, when the Constitutional Convention met for the first time at the Pennsylvania State House in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Constitutional Convention was called to revise the Articles of Confederation, which were seen as inadequate for the country's needs just a few years after the Revolutionary War. The Articles gave the Confederation Congress the power to make rules and request funds from the states, but it lacked enforcement powers and could not regulate commerce or print money.
On August 6, 1787, the Committee of Detail presented the first draft of the Constitution. The committee, composed of John Rutledge, Edmund Randolph, Nathaniel Gorham, Oliver Ellsworth, and James Wilson, was tasked with drafting a constitution that reflected the Resolutions passed by the convention up to that point. The first draft consisted of a preamble and twenty-three articles covering seven large pages, with a wide margin on the left for members to make notes. Of the twenty-three articles, two were introductions, seven dealt with Congress and its powers, one covered the executive branch, one the judiciary, three provided for interstate comity, and seven covered miscellaneous topics such as the admission of new states, amendment, and ratification.
After five weeks of debate over the Committee of Detail's draft, the convention appointed a Committee of Style and Arrangement, including Gouverneur Morris, to prepare a final version. This committee distilled the twenty-three approved articles into the final Constitution. On September 17, 1787, the Constitutional Convention voted in favor of the Constitution, and thirty-nine delegates from twelve states signed the document, with Rhode Island being the only state not to sign. The ratification process then began, ending on May 29, 1790, when Rhode Island became the final state to ratify the Constitution.
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The ratification process
The drafting of the United States Constitution began on May 25, 1787, when the Constitutional Convention first met at the Pennsylvania State House in Philadelphia. The first draft of the Constitution was presented on August 6, 1787, by the Committee of Detail, composed of John Rutledge, Edmund Randolph, Nathaniel Gorham, Oliver Ellsworth, and James Wilson. The draft consisted of a preamble and twenty-three articles, covering seven large pages.
Nine of the thirteen states were required to ratify the Constitution for it to become the official framework for the government of the United States. Delaware was the first state to approve the Constitution on December 7, 1787, followed by Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticut. On June 21, 1788, New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify the Constitution, making it the official governing document of the United States.
The remaining four states, including Rhode Island, which was the last state to ratify, approved the Constitution by May 29, 1790, finalizing the ratification process. The Constitution continues to guide the US government, protect the rights of Americans, and inspire democracies worldwide.
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The Federalists and Anti-Federalists
The drafting of the US Constitution began on May 25, 1787, when the Constitutional Convention first met at the Pennsylvania State House in Philadelphia. The first draft of the Constitution was presented on August 6, 1787, by the Committee of Detail, composed of John Rutledge, Edmund Randolph, Nathaniel Gorham, Oliver Ellsworth, and James Wilson. The draft consisted of a preamble and twenty-three articles, including provisions for a bicameral legislature, an executive called the President, an independent judiciary with a Supreme Court, and ratification by conventions in the states.
The Federalists were instrumental in shaping the new US Constitution in 1787. They included Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison, who authored the Federalist Papers, a series of essays defending the Constitution. The Federalist Papers were written in response to the Anti-Federalist Papers, a collection of speeches, essays, and pamphlets by the Anti-Federalists, which argued against the ratification of the Constitution. The Anti-Federalist Papers were authored by writers using pseudonyms such as Cato, Centinel, Federal Farmer, and Brutus, and they played a significant role in the creation of the Bill of Rights.
The differences between the Federalists and Anti-Federalists were complex and far-reaching. The Federalists held nationalist beliefs and sought to strengthen the authority of the national government, while the Anti-Federalists wanted to preserve the independence of the states and protect individual liberties. The Anti-Federalists were concerned about the potential for tyranny and the erosion of states' rights under a powerful central government. They believed that the Constitution, as written, would be oppressive, especially to small towns and rural areas. The Federalists, on the other hand, saw the need for an energetic national government and worked to amend the Articles of Confederation, eventually leading to the Constitutional Convention.
The ratification of the Constitution was a contentious process, with the Anti-Federalists mobilizing against it in state legislatures across the country. However, the Anti-Federalists failed to organize effectively across all thirteen states, and the Constitution was eventually ratified by the required number of states. The influence of the Anti-Federalists, however, led to the passage of the Bill of Rights, which guaranteed specific liberties and reserved powers to the states and the people.
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Frequently asked questions
The first draft of the US Constitution was written on August 6, 1787.
The first draft of the Constitution was written by James Wilson, the delegate from York, PA, and chair of the Committee of Detail. The committee consisted of John Rutledge, Edmund Randolph, Nathaniel Gorham, Oliver Ellsworth, and James Wilson.
The first draft of the Constitution consisted of a preamble and twenty-three articles covering seven large pages. Of the twenty-three articles, two were introductions, seven dealt with Congress and its powers, one covered the Executive, one the judiciary, three provided for interstate comity, and seven covered miscellaneous topics such as the admission of new states, amendments, and ratification.
The US Constitution was adopted and signed on September 17, 1787.
