Jonah Patel
The Preamble to the United States Constitution, which begins with the words We the People, is an introductory statement of the Constitution's fundamental purposes and principles. It was written by Gouverneur Morris, a Pennsylvania delegate to the 1787 Constitutional Convention held in Philadelphia. Morris, a Founding Father of the United States, advanced the idea of being a citizen of a single union of states. He was also one of the most outspoken opponents of slavery at the Constitutional Congress.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Gouverneur Morris |
| Birth Date | January 31, 1752 |
| Death Date | November 6, 1816 |
| Profession | American Statesman |
| Committee | Committee of Style and Arrangement |
| Committee Members | 5, chaired by William Samuel Johnson |
| Committee Role | Elected to serve on the committee |
| Committee Work | Drafted final language of the proposed constitution |
| Preamble Authorship | Credited by historians for authorship of the final version of the preamble |
| Preamble Changes | Changed the opening line to "We, the People of the United States" |
| Preamble Purpose | Introduce the Constitution and explain its purpose |
| Other Work | Represented Pennsylvania at the 1787 Constitutional Convention |
| Political Affiliation | Federalist Party |
| Post-Senate Work | Chairman of the Erie Canal Commission |
| Biography | Richard Brookhiser referred to him as the "Rake Who Wrote the Constitution" |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
The preamble was written by Gouverneur Morris
The preamble to the US Constitution was written by Gouverneur Morris, a Pennsylvania delegate to the 1787 Constitutional Convention held at Independence Hall in Philadelphia. Morris, a gifted scholar, was born on January 31, 1752, on his family's estate, Morrisania, in what is now the Bronx, New York City. At age 12, he enrolled at King's College (now Columbia University) and graduated in 1768, receiving a master's degree in 1771. He studied law under Judge William Smith and was admitted to the bar in 1775.
Morris played a significant role in shaping the Constitution, and most historians credit him with authorship of the final version of the preamble. He was elected to serve on the Committee of Style and Arrangement, which was responsible for drafting the final language of the proposed constitution. Morris's influence is evident in changing the opening line from "We, the People of the States" to "We, the People of the United States," reflecting his belief in a single union of states.
In addition to his work on the preamble, Morris drafted much of the rest of the Constitution and has been called the "Penman of the Constitution." He advocated for a strong central government and was one of the most outspoken opponents of slavery among those present at the Constitutional Congress. After the ratification of the Constitution, Morris served as Minister Plenipotentiary to France, where he criticized the French Revolution and the execution of Marie Antoinette.
Morris's final public act was his support for the Hartford Convention during the War of 1812, as he pushed for secession to create a separate New York-New England Confederation. He saw the war as a result of slaveholders' expansionist desires. Morris's legacy is complex, as he is described as "an aristocrat to the core," believing that common people were incapable of self-government. Despite this, he left a lasting impact on the foundational document of the United States, shaping its direction and principles.
USS Constitution's Length: A Historical Perspective
You may want to see also
Morris was a Pennsylvania delegate
The Preamble to the United States Constitution, which begins with the words "We the People", is an introductory statement outlining the Constitution's fundamental purposes and guiding principles. It was written primarily by Gouverneur Morris, a Pennsylvania delegate to the 1787 Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia. Morris, a native of New York City, came from a wealthy landowning family. He studied law and was admitted to the bar before embarking on a career in public service.
Morris was a delegate to the Continental Congress, where he worked alongside General George Washington to reform and finance the American military during the Revolutionary War. He later served as Washington's second ambassador to France, witnessing the French Revolution and the execution of Marie Antoinette. In 1787, Morris returned to Philadelphia as a delegate to the Constitutional Convention, where he played a pivotal role in shaping the language and structure of the Constitution.
Known as the "Penman of the Constitution", Morris was a member of the Committee of Style and Arrangement, responsible for drafting the final language of the proposed constitution. He gave the most speeches of any delegate, with a total of 173, passionately defending religious freedom and arguing for a strong central government. Morris is credited with authoring the final version of the preamble, including the iconic phrase "We the People of the United States."
Morris's contributions extended beyond the preamble. He advocated for a strong executive branch, believing that an energetic president, independent of legislative tyranny, was necessary to safeguard the interests of the people. Additionally, he championed popular election over congressional election for the president to curb legislative influence. Morris's ideas and words left an indelible mark on the Constitution, shaping the course of American governance and democracy.
Morris's work at the Constitutional Convention was not without controversy. Critics accused him of favoring a highly centralised, aristocratic government. However, he earned respect for his exhaustive debating abilities and substantial contributions to the final draft of the Constitution. Morris signed the final draft on behalf of Pennsylvania on September 17, 1787, cementing his place in the annals of American history.
The Constitution's Journey: A Long Road to Freedom
You may want to see also
He was an American statesman
Gouverneur Morris, an American statesman, was the Founding Father who primarily wrote the preamble of the US Constitution. Morris was born in 1752 on his family's estate, Morrisania, in what is now the Bronx, New York. His father, Lewis Morris, was a wealthy landowner and judge. Gouverneur Morris was a gifted scholar who enrolled at King's College (now Columbia University) at age 12 and graduated in 1768. He received a master's degree in 1771 and studied law with Judge William Smith, attaining admission to the bar in 1775.
Morris was an outspoken opponent of slavery and advocated for a strong central government. He represented Pennsylvania at the 1787 Constitutional Convention and served on the committee that wrote the final draft of the US Constitution. He is credited with authoring the final version of the preamble, including changing the opening line to "We, the People of the United States." This change reflected his idea of citizenship in a single union of states, rather than individual states.
In addition to his role in drafting the Constitution, Morris also served in various political positions. He represented New York in the US Senate from 1800 to 1803 and was affiliated with the Federalist Party. After leaving the Senate, he served as chairman of the Erie Canal Commission and was one of the commissioners who created the Commissioners' Plan of 1811 to establish New York's street grid. Morris's final public act was to support the Hartford Convention during the War of 1812, even pushing for secession to create a separate New England-New York confederation. He saw the war as a result of slaveholders' desire to expand their territory. Gouverneur Morris passed away in 1816, leaving behind a legacy as a key figure in the founding of the United States and the only person to have written a part of the Constitution from scratch.
Understanding Financial Need for College Admissions
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Morris was an outspoken opponent of slavery
Gouverneur Morris, a Founding Father of the United States, wrote the Preamble to the United States Constitution. Morris was an outspoken opponent of slavery, despite the fact that his family had owned slaves for generations.
On August 8, 1787, Morris gave a famous anti-slavery speech at the Constitutional Convention, where he stated that it was incongruous to consider a slave both a man and property. He described slavery as a nefarious institution and a curse of heaven on the states where it prevailed. He noted the contrast between the prosperous and happy people of the free regions of the Middle States and the misery and poverty of the slave states.
Morris believed that the purpose of the Constitution was to protect the rights of humanity, which was incompatible with promoting slavery. He argued that the Constitution should not include references to slavery, slaveholding, or slaves, and indeed, these words do not appear in the document. He also removed all obvious gender references from the draft, except for generic masculine pronouns. Morris wanted to ensure that the wording of the federal government's charter would not be a source of restriction for the rights of women and Black people.
Morris opposed the inclusion of slaves in the census, which would allot members of the House of Representatives and electors in the Electoral College. He argued that counting slaves in the census would only serve to strengthen slaveholders' electoral power. Although he lost the debate, his stance laid the groundwork for slavery to be eventually eliminated in the Empire State.
Morris also opposed admitting new western states on an equal basis with existing eastern states, fearing that the interior "wilderness" could not furnish "enlightened" national statesmen. This view was motivated by his desire to limit the power of slaveholding states, as he believed that slavery would prevent the emergence of enlightened political leaders.
The Unchanging Constitution: What Remains the Same?
You may want to see also
He advocated for a strong central government
Gouverneur Morris, a Pennsylvania delegate to the 1787 Constitutional Convention, is credited with writing the Preamble to the United States Constitution. Morris, a Founding Father of the United States, was a strong advocate for a central government. He represented Pennsylvania at the 1787 Constitutional Convention, where he pushed for a unified government structure.
Morris's belief in a strong central government was shaped by his background and experiences. Born into a wealthy landowning family, he received a privileged education, studying law under Judge William Smith and earning admission to the bar. His early political career was marked by his advocacy for independence, which brought him into conflict with his family and mentor, who disagreed with his progressive views.
As a delegate to the Constitutional Convention, Morris played a crucial role in shaping the Constitution. He served on the Committee of Style and Arrangement, responsible for drafting the final language of the proposed Constitution. Morris's influence extended beyond the Preamble, as he is credited with authoring significant portions of the document. His contributions reflected his vision for a robust and unified national government, a departure from the prevailing sentiment of state-centric governance.
Morris's commitment to a strong central government was also evident in his later political career. After the ratification of the Constitution, he served as Minister Plenipotentiary to France, where he criticized the French Revolution and the execution of Marie Antoinette. Upon returning to the United States, he continued his public service, representing New York in the United States Senate from 1800 to 1803.
However, Morris's support for a central government did not waver, even when faced with national challenges. During the War of 1812, he notably advocated for secession, proposing the creation of a separate New York-New England Confederation. This stance arose from his belief that the war was instigated by slaveholders seeking territorial expansion. Morris's unwavering commitment to his principles earned him the recognition of being the "Penman of the Constitution."
The Constitution: God and Bible Mention
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
The preamble of the US Constitution was written by Gouverneur Morris, a Pennsylvania delegate to the 1787 Constitutional Convention held in Philadelphia.
Morris was elected to the Committee of Style and Arrangement, which drafted the final language of the proposed constitution. He is credited with writing the final version of the preamble, including changing the opening line to "We, the People of the United States."
Yes, Gouverneur Morris is considered a Founding Father of the United States and a signatory to the Articles of Confederation and the US Constitution. He has been referred to as the "Penman of the Constitution."
Morris was an outspoken opponent of slavery and advocated for a strong central government. However, he was also described as "an aristocrat to the core," believing that society needed an aristocracy and that common people were incapable of self-government.
