Malcolm Rivera
The U.S. Constitution, the supreme law of the United States of America, was created during the Philadelphia Convention, now known as the Constitutional Convention, which convened from May 25 to September 17, 1787. The convention was called due to fears that the young country was on the brink of collapse. America's first constitution, the Articles of Confederation, had created a weak central government with no enforcement powers, and disputes between the states over territory, war pensions, taxation, and trade threatened to tear the country apart. The convention was presided over by George Washington, and James Madison is often considered the chief architect of the Constitution. Alexander Hamilton also played a key role in convincing Congress to organize the convention.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of delegates | 55 |
| Number of delegates who signed the Constitution | 39 |
| Age range of delegates | 26–81 |
| Main authors | James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, John Jay |
| Other key figures | George Washington, Roger Sherman, Gouverneur Morris, James Wilson, William Paterson, Benjamin Franklin |
| Nicknames | James Madison: "Father of the Constitution" |
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What You'll Learn
- James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay: the primary authors
- George Washington: unanimously elected president of the convention
- Roger Sherman: bridged the gap between smaller and larger states
- William Paterson: authored the New Jersey Plan
- James Wilson: desired a single executive with absolute veto power
James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay: the primary authors
James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay are often regarded as the primary authors of the US Constitution. These three influential men played a leading role in drafting the document and wrote a series of essays known as the Federalist Papers to build public support for the Constitution and explain its principles.
Madison is often called the "Father of the Constitution" because of his extensive contributions to the drafting process. He was a delegate from Virginia and played a major role in drafting the initial proposal for the Constitution, the Virginia Plan, which served as the basis for much of the Constitution. He also proposed the Bill of Rights, the first ten amendments to the Constitution, which guarantee individual rights and freedoms. Madison's notes from the Constitutional Convention are considered essential documents for understanding the Constitution's creation.
Alexander Hamilton was another key figure in the drafting of the Constitution. He was a strong advocate for a powerful central government and played a major role in shaping the Constitution's executive branch. Hamilton also wrote many of the Federalist Papers and is considered one of the most important thinkers in American history.
John Jay, a co-author of the Federalist Papers, served as the first chief justice of the Supreme Court for six years. He was instrumental in interpreting and enforcing the Constitution as law.
While the contributions of Madison, Hamilton, and Jay are often emphasized, it is important to recognize that the Constitution was a collaborative effort involving many other delegates to the Constitutional Convention, such as George Washington, Roger Sherman, James Wilson, and Gouverneur Morris, who all made significant contributions to the final document.
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George Washington: unanimously elected president of the convention
George Washington was unanimously elected president of the Constitutional Convention. Washington's presence provided a sense of focus and direction to the convention. Although he originally did not want to be involved with the creation of the Constitution, Washington had a vision for a stronger union. He oversaw the debate and helped make his vision a reality.
The Constitutional Convention assembled in Philadelphia in May 1787. The 55 delegates were elected by the original states (except Rhode Island) to revise the Articles of Confederation, the country's first written constitution. However, the delegates soon realized that the Articles were fundamentally flawed and decided to create an entirely new document. The drafting of the Constitution was a long and difficult process, with delegates disagreeing on many important issues, such as the balance of power between the states and the federal government.
Washington's presence at the convention added a great deal of legitimacy to the process and helped reassure the American people that the final product would be sound and effective. He was one of the key figures at the convention, along with other influential delegates such as James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay. These three men played a leading role in drafting the document and wrote a series of essays known as the Federalist Papers to build public support for the Constitution.
Washington's election as president of the convention reflects his importance and influence in the country at the time. His presence and guidance were crucial in shaping the direction of the convention and ensuring that the final Constitution reflected his vision for a stronger union.
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Roger Sherman: bridged the gap between smaller and larger states
The creation of the US Constitution was a collaborative effort involving many key players. One of those was Roger Sherman, who is credited with proposing the "Connecticut Compromise" or the "Great Compromise". This proposal helped bridge the gap between smaller and larger states during the Constitutional Convention of 1787.
The delegates to the Constitutional Convention were deeply divided over the issue of congressional representation. Delegates from larger, more populous states favoured the Virginia Plan, which called for proportional representation, with each state having a different number of representatives based on its population. On the other hand, delegates from smaller states supported the New Jersey Plan, which advocated for equal representation, with each state sending the same number of representatives to Congress.
Sherman, a delegate from Connecticut, proposed a compromise that satisfied both sides. He suggested a ""bicameral" or two-chambered Congress, consisting of a Senate and a House of Representatives. Under his proposal, each state would have equal representation in the Senate, with two senators, while representation in the House would be proportional to the state's population, with one representative for every 30,000 residents.
Sherman's proposal was a creative solution to the dispute between larger and smaller states. It was well-received by delegates from both sides and became a fundamental aspect of the US Constitution, defining the structure and representation of Congress. This compromise was a critical step in the creation of the Constitution, and historians note that without it, there may not have been a Constitution at all.
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William Paterson: authored the New Jersey Plan
William Paterson was one of the key figures in the creation of the US Constitution. He was a delegate from New Jersey and the author of the New Jersey Plan, which was one of the two major competing proposals for the structure and functioning of the US government presented at the Constitutional Convention in 1787.
The New Jersey Plan was introduced by Paterson on June 15, 1787, and consisted of nine resolutions. The plan aimed to benefit small states, such as New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland, by ensuring equal representation for each state in Congress, regardless of population size. This was in contrast to the Virginia Plan, which proposed proportional representation, giving states with larger populations a greater number of representatives and, consequently, more power.
Paterson's plan also included proposals to expand the powers of Congress, including the authority to collect import duties, raise taxes through measures such as a stamp tax and postage, and establish a federal judiciary appointed by the executive branch. Additionally, it introduced the three-fifths rule, which counted three-fifths of the number of enslaved people in a state for the purpose of determining its population when assessing requests for funding from the states.
The New Jersey Plan was rejected by the delegates on June 19, with seven states voting against it, three in favour, and one divided. Despite this, Paterson's ideas were not entirely dismissed. He returned to sign the Constitution in September, as aspects of his proposal were incorporated into the Connecticut Compromise, also known as the Great Compromise, which aimed to address the concerns of less populous states.
The Constitutional Convention, which took place in Philadelphia, was attended by 55 delegates, ranging in age from 26 to 81. These delegates, including Paterson, played a crucial role in shaping the US Constitution, which superseded the Articles of Confederation in June 1788 after ratification by nine states.
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James Wilson: desired a single executive with absolute veto power
James Wilson was one of the key players in the Constitutional Convention, which assembled in Philadelphia in May 1787. Wilson's ideas served as the basis for the American presidency. He proposed a single executive, or a "single magistrate", who would be elected by popular vote and have the power to veto legislation. Wilson believed that this would ensure the independence of the executive and legislative branches from each other. He also argued for a national Supreme Court and for Congress to have the discretion to create inferior federal courts.
Wilson's proposal for a single executive competed with that of Virginia Delegate Edmund Randolph, who advocated for an executive consisting of three people. Randolph argued that a single executive would give too much power to one person and mirror the alleged tyranny of the British monarch. Wilson responded by pointing out that most of the colonists' complaints against the British concerned laws enacted by Parliament, not the king. He also believed that a three-person executive would lead to animosity and discord, complicating decision-making at the federal level.
The delegates voted in favor of Wilson's proposal on June 4, with seven states in favor and three against. However, they disliked his proposal for a popularly elected executive, with Connecticut Delegate Roger Sherman calling it "the very essence of tyranny". Wilson then reworked his proposal, suggesting that the executive be elected by an Electoral College system, with each state divided into districts and the qualified people in each district electing members for their respective districts to be electors of the executive. This proposal was initially voted down, and the delegates opted for legislative selection of the president.
James Wilson was the only person who signed the Declaration of Independence, the United States Constitution, and served as a Supreme Court Justice. He made important contributions to American democracy and helped shape the Constitution, which was signed by 39 delegates, including Wilson, on September 17, 1787.
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Frequently asked questions
The three main authors of the US Constitution are James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay.
There were 55 delegates at the Constitutional Convention who made significant contributions to the drafting of the Constitution. Some of the key figures included Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, Roger Sherman, Gouverneur Morris, William Paterson, and James Wilson.
The Constitutional Convention was assembled in Philadelphia in May 1787. The delegates were tasked with revising the existing government under the Articles of Confederation, but they soon decided to create an entirely new document.
