Omar Bennett
The US Constitution was written by 55 delegates to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, during the summer of 1787. While James Madison is often referred to as the Father of the Constitution, it is important to note that several other individuals also played a significant role in drafting this important historical document.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of authors | 55 |
| Main authors | James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, John Jay |
| Other key authors | Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, Roger Sherman, Gouverneur Morris |
| First draft | Handwritten on five pages of parchment by Jacob Shallus |
| Number of signatures | 39 |
| Number of amendments | 27 |
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What You'll Learn
James Madison: the 'Father of the Constitution'
James Madison, born on March 16, 1751, was the eldest of twelve children. He is often hailed as the "'Father of the Constitution'" for his extensive contributions to the drafting process. Madison was a prominent American statesman, diplomat, and Founding Father who served as the fourth president of the United States from 1809 to 1817. He played a pivotal role in drafting and promoting the Constitution of the United States and the Bill of Rights.
Madison's journey began in 1774 when he joined the Patriots, dissatisfied with British taxation. He was a member of the Virginia House of Delegates and the Continental Congress during and after the American Revolutionary War. Madison's political career started when he was appointed colonel of his local militia during the war. However, due to his poor health, he left the army and transitioned into politics. He was elected as the youngest delegate to the Continental Congress in 1780 and worked tirelessly for religious freedom in Virginia.
Madison was instrumental in organizing the Constitutional Convention, which produced a new constitution to strengthen republican government against democratic assembly. He was the primary author of the Virginia Plan, which served as the basis for much of the U.S. Constitution. Madison also played a key role in the debates over the Constitution and wrote 29 of the 85 Federalist Papers, a series of essays defending the Constitution. He took detailed notes of the Constitutional Convention debates, providing a comprehensive record of the proceedings.
Madison's influence extended beyond the drafting of the Constitution. He was among the first members of the U.S. House of Representatives and sponsored the first ten amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, emphasizing freedom of religion, speech, and the press. He also served as Secretary of State under President Thomas Jefferson. Madison's contributions to the Constitution were so significant that he was hailed as the "Father of the Constitution" even during his lifetime. His ideas and theories advanced human rights and civil liberties, leaving a lasting impact on the young nation.
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Alexander Hamilton: co-author of The Federalist Papers
The US Constitution was written by 55 delegates to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the summer of 1787. The delegates were elected by the states to revise the Articles of Confederation, the country's first written constitution. However, they soon realised 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.
Alexander Hamilton, alongside James Madison and John Jay, was one of the main authors of the US Constitution. Hamilton was also a co-author of The Federalist Papers, a series of 85 essays written under the pseudonym "Publius". The essays were published anonymously in various New York state newspapers between October 1787 and May 1788.
The Federalist Papers were written to urge New Yorkers to ratify the proposed United States Constitution. They explain the Constitution's provisions in detail and are often used to interpret the intentions of those who drafted the document. Hamilton recruited collaborators for the project, including Madison and Jay, as he wanted to launch a defence and explanation of the proposed Constitution to the people of New York State.
Hamilton, Madison, and Jay each contributed to The Federalist Papers in different ways. At the start of the series, all three authors were contributing, with the first 20 papers broken down as 11 by Hamilton, five by Madison, and four by Jay. The rest of the series is dominated by three long segments by a single writer: Nos. 21–36 by Hamilton, Nos. 37–58 by Madison, and No. 65 through the end by Hamilton.
After Hamilton's death in 1804, a list emerged claiming that he alone had written two-thirds of the essays. Some believe that several of the essays were written by Madison, specifically Nos. 49–58 and 62–63. The scholarly work of Douglass Adair in 1944 supported this claim, assigning authorship of 51 articles to Hamilton, 29 to Madison, and the remaining articles to Jay.
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John Jay: advocate for a federal system of government
The US Constitution was written by 55 delegates to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the summer of 1787. The main authors of the Constitution were James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay. These three men were all delegates to the convention and played a leading role in drafting the document.
John Jay was a lawyer and diplomat from New York who served as the first Chief Justice of the United States. He was a strong advocate for a federal system of government and played a key role in drafting Article III of the Constitution, which establishes the judicial branch. Jay believed that the Articles of Confederation, the country's first constitution, were too weak and ineffective. He argued that the Congress under the Articles of Confederation lacked the power to raise men or money to carry out their duties, make peace, or enforce treaties.
Jay joined Hamilton and Madison in aggressively arguing for the creation of a new and more powerful, centralized but balanced system of government. They wrote a series of essays under the pseudonym "Publius" in 1787 and 1788, promoting the ratification of a new US Constitution. These essays, later collected as The Federalist Papers, articulated their vision of an effective federal government that could act in the national interest while preserving some power for the states. Jay wrote five of the eighty-five essays in the Federalist Papers, focusing on the "'Dangers from Foreign Force and Influence' and the role of the Senate in making foreign treaties.
In addition to his work on the Federalist Papers, Jay also directed US foreign policy for much of the 1780s and served as the key negotiator at the Treaty of Paris, which ended the American Revolutionary War and recognized American independence. He was an important leader of the Federalist Party after the ratification of the Constitution in 1788 and was appointed by President George Washington as the first Chief Justice of the United States, serving from 1789 to 1795. Jay also served as the governor of New York from 1795 to 1801, during which he passed gradual emancipation legislation.
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Benjamin Franklin: the oldest delegate at 81
The US Constitution was written by 55 delegates to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, during the summer of 1787. Benjamin Franklin, at 81, was the oldest of these delegates.
Franklin was a Founding Father of the United States, and he played an important role in the creation of the US Constitution. He was one of 39 delegates who signed the document, giving their unyielding approval. Notably, Franklin acknowledged that he did not approve of certain parts of the Constitution, but he accepted it, stating, "I am not sure I shall never approve them: For having lived long, I have experienced many instances of being obliged by better information, or fuller consideration, to change opinions even on important subjects, which I once thought I was right."
Franklin's wisdom and experience were invaluable during the Constitutional Convention. He was a respected figure who contributed significantly to the debates and discussions that shaped the final document. Franklin's insights and perspectives, shaped by his long life and diverse experiences, influenced the compromises and decisions made during the Convention.
In addition to his role as a delegate, Franklin also left a lasting impact on the Constitution through his ideas and writings. He was a prolific writer, and his contributions to the Declaration of Independence and his personal correspondence reflected his thoughts on the Constitution and the principles it embodied. Franklin's insights on the Constitution and America's founding principles are recorded in James Madison's "Notes on the Debate in the Federal Convention" of 1787.
Benjamin Franklin's involvement in the creation of the US Constitution, despite his advanced age, demonstrates his dedication to the founding of the nation and the establishment of a durable framework for the country's governance. His contributions, along with those of the other delegates, resulted in a complex document that has been interpreted and adapted to meet the changing needs of the country over time.
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George Washington: oversaw the Constitutional Convention
George Washington, a former commanding general of the Continental Army in the American Revolutionary War, played a crucial role in overseeing the Constitutional Convention, also known as the Philadelphia Convention, the Federal Convention, or the Grand Convention at Philadelphia. The Convention took place in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from May 14 to September 17, 1787, and was attended by 55 state delegates. Washington was initially reluctant to participate in the Convention but was persuaded by contemporaries such as James Madison and General Henry Knox, who advocated for a national system of government. They believed that Washington's leadership was essential due to the trust and respect he had earned during the war.
Washington was unanimously elected as the president of the Convention, a position in which he worked to forge consensus among the delegates. The delegates were passionate federalists and anti-federalists who disagreed on several key issues, including the balance of power between the states and the federal government, the structure of the legislature, and the qualifications for voting and office holding. Washington's primary role was to maintain order and provide a deciding vote when needed. He successfully created an atmosphere that facilitated compromise, allowing the delegates to work together despite their differing views.
Washington's belief in a strong central government and a single executive leader influenced his decision-making during the Convention. However, he refrained from imposing his beliefs on others and allowed open debate among the delegates. He made one notable contribution to the text of the Constitution, supporting a proposal to lower the size of congressional districts from 40,000 to 30,000 citizens. This proposal was adopted without further debate.
Washington's leadership and support for the Constitution were crucial in gaining approval and ratification. He was the first to sign the document, and his influence convinced many others to follow suit. By June 1789, the required nine out of thirteen states had voted to ratify the Constitution, and by May 29, 1790, every state had ratified it. Washington's role as overseer of the Constitutional Convention was instrumental in shaping the United States Constitution and establishing a centralized federal government.
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Frequently asked questions
The US Constitution was written by 55 delegates to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the summer of 1787. While the contributions of Madison, Hamilton, and Jay are often emphasized, it is important to remember that the Constitution was a group effort.
James Madison is often called the "Father of the Constitution" because of his extensive contributions to the drafting process. Alexander Hamilton was a passionate advocate for a strong federal government and a key author of "The Federalist Papers". John Jay was a lawyer and diplomat from New York and served as the first Chief Justice of the United States.
Some of the other key figures included Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, Roger Sherman, and Gouverneur Morris.
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