Drunk History: Founding Fathers And The Constitution

The United States Constitution, the oldest and longest-standing written and codified national constitution in force, was written in Philadelphia during the summer of 1787. The Founding Fathers, a group of 55 delegates representing 12 of the 13 states, are known to have had quite the night at a tavern in Philadelphia just two days before signing the Constitution. The bill from that night in 1787 included 54 bottles of Madeira, 60 bottles of claret, eight of whiskey, 22 of porter, eight of hard cider, 12 of beer, and seven bowls of alcoholic punch.

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The US Constitution was written in Philadelphia

The US Constitution, the document that serves as the foundation for the United States of America, was written in Philadelphia. The Founding Fathers, who drafted and signed the Constitution, were known to enjoy a drink or two. In fact, they had quite the night at a tavern in Philadelphia just before signing the Constitution, racking up a massive bar tab.

The Constitutional Convention of 1787 in Philadelphia saw 55 delegates come together to finalise the draft of the country's founding document. After a long and exhausting summer, the delegates, including George Washington, put down their quill pens on September 14, 1787, ready to celebrate. Washington, who had defeated the British and was a calming presence during the stormy Constitution debate, was universally assumed to become the first head of the government.

The delegates partied at the City Tavern, the framers' unofficial watering hole, just four blocks from Independence Hall. The bill from that night reveals that the group consumed 54 bottles of Madeira, 60 bottles of Claret, 8 bottles of whiskey, 22 bottles of porter, 8 bottles of hard cider, 12 bottles of beer, and 7 large bowls of punch. That amounts to more than 45 gallons of alcohol, or more than two bottles per delegate, along with some shots and a lot of punch and beer.

While it is unclear how much each individual drank, it is safe to say that the Founding Fathers as a group drank a lot. Alcohol played a prominent role in many Americans' lives during the Founding Era, and getting drunk was socially accepted. The Founders, like most colonists, were fans of alcoholic beverages, with beer, cider, and whiskey being common drinks. Benjamin Franklin, a Founding Father himself, even published a "Drinker's Dictionary," a compendium of Colonial slang describing states of drunkenness, in 1737.

So, while the US Constitution was written in Philadelphia, the Founding Fathers did indeed celebrate its finalisation with a night of drinking and merriment in the same city.

The Founding Fathers debated, wrote and signed the Constitution

The Founding Fathers of the United States of America were known for their drinking habits, and there is evidence to suggest that they were drinking while debating, writing and signing the Constitution.

The Founding Fathers were known to frequent taverns, which served as places to gather political intelligence and discuss agendas. Benjamin Franklin, for instance, was known to use taverns as a "tool of diplomacy", employing "eating, drinking, and gossiping" as negotiation tactics. Franklin even published a "Drinkers' Dictionary", a compendium of colonial slang describing states of drunkenness. This was initially printed in 1737 in the Pennsylvania Gazette, making Franklin one of America's first food and drink writers.

The Founding Fathers also drank at home. Thomas Jefferson drank Portuguese Madeira by the truckload as a young man, and in his post-presidential years, he tried and failed to cultivate grapes for winemaking at his vineyard in Monticello. George Washington also produced alcoholic beverages, with his distillery making almost 11,000 gallons of whiskey in 1799, valued at approximately $120,000 today. Washington also purchased and brewed beer for consumption on his Mount Vernon estate.

The Founders' drinking culture was not limited to their personal preferences but also extended to their troops. During the Revolutionary War, George Washington, who served as Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army, ensured that there was always a sufficient quantity of spirits, with the army furnishing moderate supplies to the troops.

In the days leading up to the signing of the Constitution, the Founding Fathers partied at a tavern in Philadelphia, where they racked up a massive bar tab. According to the bill from the evening of 14 September 1787, 55 delegates to the Constitutional Convention consumed 54 bottles of Madeira, 60 bottles of claret, 8 bottles of whiskey, 22 bottles of porter, 8 bottles of hard cider, 12 bottles of beer, and 7 large bowls of punch. This amounts to more than two bottles of wine per person, plus additional alcoholic drinks. This was a common occurrence, as Colonial-era Americans drank roughly three times as much as modern Americans, and getting drunk was socially accepted.

While there is no record of the feast that took place after the Constitution was signed, it is believed that the Founders continued their drinking celebrations, toasting to the creation of a new nation.

The Constitutional Convention was held in the Assembly Room of the Pennsylvania State House

The founding fathers of the United States of America were known to enjoy a drink or two, and there is evidence to suggest that they were fond of drinking while discussing the concepts that would eventually be laid out in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. In fact, two days before signing the Constitution, the 55 delegates to the Constitutional Convention partied at a tavern in Philadelphia, where they racked up a massive bar tab.

The bar tab from that night reveals that the group consumed 54 bottles of Madeira, 60 bottles of Claret, 8 bottles of whiskey, 8 bottles of cider, 12 bottles of beer, and 7 large bowls of punch. That amounts to more than two bottles of wine, a few shots, and a lot of punch and beer per delegate. This was not an unusual occurrence, as drinking was socially accepted in colonial America, and the average American consumed much more alcohol than they do today.

The Founding Fathers were known to frequent taverns, which served as places to gather political intelligence, negotiate, and discuss revolutionary ideas. Benjamin Franklin, for example, used taverns as a tool of diplomacy, and his "Drinkers' Dictionary", a compendium of colonial slang describing drunkenness, was published in the Pennsylvania Gazette in 1737. While the Founding Fathers' drinking habits may be surprising, it is important to note that alcohol played a prominent role in the social and political life of colonial America.

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The Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787

Alcohol consumption was a prominent aspect of social life during the Founding Era in America. The Founding Fathers, like most colonists, were no strangers to alcoholic beverages. In fact, they were known to enjoy a drink or two, with some sources even suggesting that they were alcoholics.

On September 14, 1787, the delegates at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia finalised the country's founding document, which they would sign three days later on September 17, 1787. To celebrate the completion of the Constitution, the Founding Fathers went on a bender, racking up an impressive bar tab at a tavern in Philadelphia.

The bill from that night reveals that the Founding Fathers consumed a significant quantity of alcohol. According to the itemised bill, more than 45 gallons of alcohol were served to 55 individuals. Specifically, they drank 54 bottles of Madeira, 60 bottles of Claret, 8 bottles of whiskey, 8 bottles of cider, 12 bottles of beer, and 7 large bowls of punch.

This was not an isolated incident, as the Founding Fathers were known to frequent taverns, which served as places to gather political intelligence and discuss agendas. Benjamin Franklin, for example, was known to use taverns as a tool of diplomacy, employing "eating, drinking, and gossiping" as negotiation tactics. Additionally, Franklin published the "Drinker's Dictionary", a compendium of Colonial slang describing states of drunkenness, further highlighting the cultural acceptance of alcohol consumption during that era.

38 of the 41 men in the room signed the document

The Founding Fathers of the United States of America were known to be fond of alcohol, with drinking being a prominent part of many Americans' lives during the Founding Era. In fact, the average American during the Colonial era consumed far more alcohol than contemporary Americans. Getting drunk was socially accepted, and drinking was a common social activity in taverns, where political agendas were discussed and negotiated.

Benjamin Franklin, for example, was known to use taverns as a "tool of diplomacy", employing "eating, drinking, and gossiping" as negotiation tactics. He even published a "Drinkers' Dictionary", a compendium of Colonial slang describing states of drunkenness. George Washington was also known for his drinking, often racking up sizable tabs after buying drinks for friends.

Two days before signing the Constitution in 1787, the 55 delegates to the Constitutional Convention partied at a tavern in Philadelphia, running up a massive bar tab. According to the bill, they consumed 54 bottles of Madeira, 60 bottles of claret, eight bottles of whiskey, 22 bottles of porter, eight bottles of hard cider, 12 bottles of beer, and seven large bowls of alcoholic punch. That amounts to more than two bottles of wine per person, plus additional shots and beer, indicating a substantial level of drinking.

While the Founding Fathers' drinking may have been socially accepted, there were also concerns about excessive alcohol consumption. Benjamin Rush, a physician and signer of the Declaration of Independence, wrote one of the first books on alcoholism, warning about the destructive nature of "spirituous liquors". He aimed to reduce the consumption of distilled alcoholic beverages while still allowing for moderate consumption of less potent drinks.

In conclusion, while the Founding Fathers' drinking may have been a social norm, it is important to recognize that excessive alcohol consumption can have negative consequences. The example of the Founding Fathers and their drinking habits highlights how societal attitudes towards alcohol have evolved, with a modern understanding that prioritizes moderation and responsible consumption.

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