Isabella Carter
The US Constitution, along with the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights, are considered the Charters of Freedom that have secured the rights of the American people for nearly two and a half centuries. The Founding Fathers of the United States are the 55 delegates who attended the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in 1787. These men, who were sent by their state legislatures, were assigned the task of revising the Articles of Confederation but instead drafted a new constitution. The youngest Framer was Jonathan Dayton, aged 26, and the oldest was Benjamin Franklin, aged 81. Other notable Framers include George Washington, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, James Wilson, Gouverneur Morris, Edmond Randolph, and Roger Sherman.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of framers | 55 |
| Ages | 26 (youngest) to 81 (oldest) |
| Average age | 42 |
| Religious affiliations | 28 Anglicans, 21 other Protestants, 3 Catholics, 8 Presbyterians, 7 Congregationalists, 2 Lutherans, 2 Dutch Reformed, 2 Methodists |
| Notable framers | George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, James Wilson, Gouverneur Morris, Edmond Randolph, Roger Sherman, Jonathan Dayton, George Clymer, Thomas Fitzsimmons, Abraham Baldwin, Hugh Williamson, Richard Bassett, Pierce Butler, Oliver Ellsworth, W. S. Johnson, George Few, Rufus King, Robert Morris, John Langdon, William Patterson, George Read, Caleb Strong, Elbridge Gerry, Nicholas Gilman, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson |
| Anti-populist measures | President to be selected by a body of electors, not individual voters; longer terms for senators; small size for House of Representatives; judiciary shielded from populist influence |
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What You'll Learn
The 55 delegates
The US Constitution was drafted by 55 delegates, now known as the Framers of the Constitution, at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in 1787. The delegates were sent by their state legislatures to revise the Articles of Confederation. However, they ended up drafting a new constitution to replace the Articles.
The delegates included prominent figures such as George Washington, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, James Wilson, Gouverneur Morris, Edmond Randolph, and Roger Sherman. The youngest delegate was Jonathan Dayton, aged 26, while the oldest was Benjamin Franklin, aged 81. The average age of the delegates was 42.
Many of the delegates had played important roles in the Revolution, and most had served in the Continental forces, with at least 29 having held positions of command. A large majority had served in colonial or state government, and many had been state governors. Additionally, about 75% of the delegates had been members of the Confederation Congress, and several had been members of the Continental Congress during the Revolution.
The delegates represented a range of religious backgrounds. Twenty-eight were Anglicans, 21 were other Protestants, and three were Catholics. Among the non-Anglican Protestants, eight were Presbyterians, seven were Congregationalists, two were Lutherans, two were Dutch Reformed, and two were Methodists.
The Constitutional Convention was a fiery and intense gathering, with delegates holding strong views on the role of government in the new nation. Despite their differences, the delegates worked together to create a new constitution that incorporated ideas from various individuals. The final version of the Constitution was signed by 39 of the 55 delegates on September 17, 1787.
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The Constitutional Convention
The convention was convened to address the problems of the weak central government that existed under the Articles of Confederation. While the original intent was to revise the Articles of Confederation, the delegates ultimately drafted a new constitution to replace them. The convention was presided over by George Washington of Virginia, a former commanding general of the Continental Army in the American Revolutionary War and a proponent of a stronger national government.
James Madison of Virginia, who arrived in Philadelphia eleven days early, was instrumental in setting the convention's agenda. Before the convention, Madison studied republics and confederacies throughout history and drafted a document titled "Vices of the Political System of the United States," which offered solutions to the weaknesses of the American political system. Madison's blueprint for constitutional revision became the starting point for the convention's deliberations, and he, along with Alexander Hamilton of New York, was a leading proponent of creating a new frame of government rather than simply revising the existing one.
The convention debated and ratified the Constitution of the United States, establishing a federal government with more specific powers, including those related to conducting relations with foreign governments. The framers of the Constitution created a model of government that relied on a series of checks and balances by dividing federal authority between the legislative, judicial, and executive branches. The role of the executive was hotly debated, including issues such as how a president would be elected, the length of a presidential term, and what offenses should be impeachable. Slavery was also a highly contentious issue, with delegates debating the inclusion of a fugitive slave clause, the potential abolition of the slave trade, and whether enslaved individuals should be counted for purposes of proportional representation.
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The Founding Fathers
Some prominent Founding Fathers were anti-clerical, notably Thomas Jefferson. Many founders deliberately avoided public discussion of their faith. Four US founders are minted on American currency: Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, Thomas Jefferson, and George Washington.
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The Charters of Freedom
The Declaration of Independence, adopted on July 4, 1776, proclaimed the independence of the thirteen American colonies from Great Britain and established them as a new nation. This document, signed by 56 representatives from the colonies, outlined the reasons for their separation and asserted their natural rights and liberties. The Declaration of Independence is celebrated annually on Independence Day, a US national holiday commemorating the birth of the nation.
The United States Constitution, drafted in 1787, is the supreme law of the land. It establishes the structure and powers of the federal government, including the legislative, executive, and judicial branches. The Constitution was created by 55 delegates, known as the Framers, who attended the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia. Notable Framers include Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and James Wilson. The Constitution provided for a stronger national government, granting it powers such as the ability to levy taxes and regulate commerce.
The Bill of Rights comprises the first ten amendments to the Constitution and was ratified in 1791. It guarantees a number of fundamental rights and civil liberties, including freedom of speech, religion, and assembly, as well as the right to keep and bear arms and the protection against unreasonable searches and seizures. The Bill of Rights was the result of the efforts of James Madison and other members of the First Congress, who recognised the need to safeguard these rights for American citizens.
Together, these three documents form the Charters of Freedom, providing the philosophical and legal foundation for the United States of America and securing the rights and liberties of its citizens. They reflect the ideals and principles that have guided the nation's development and continue to shape its identity.
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Anti-populist aims
The US Constitution was drafted by 55 delegates who attended the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in 1787. These men, who were prominent in their states, are now known as the Framers of the Constitution. Notable Framers include George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, James Wilson, Gouverneur Morris, Edmond Randolph, and Roger Sherman.
The Framers of the Constitution had anti-populist aims in mind while drafting the document. Michael Klarman, an expert in American constitutional law and history at Harvard, states that the Framers wanted to limit populist power. This is evident in the Constitution's provision for the selection of the president. Instead of allowing individual voters to elect the president directly, the Framers established that the president would be chosen by a body of electors selected by the states.
The Framers also sought to insulate Congress from populist pressures. Prior to the ratification of the 17th Amendment in 1913, senators were selected by state legislators rather than being directly elected by voters. Additionally, members of the Senate were granted longer terms of office, serving for six years, to further distance them from populist influence. The House of Representatives, which is directly elected, was kept relatively small to limit its populist inclinations.
The Framers also considered ways to shield the judiciary from populist influence. They established a nationwide system of courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court, to protect the interests of the federal government. Federal judges were granted tenure and protection from salary diminution to safeguard their political independence. These measures limited the political influence of citizens on the national government while promising them liberty.
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Frequently asked questions
The framers of the US Constitution were the 55 delegates who attended the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in 1787.
The framers aimed to replace the Articles of Confederation with a new constitution. They wanted to create a stronger national government with more powers than Congress, such as the ability to levy taxes, create and oversee a national military, and regulate interstate and foreign commerce. The framers also had anti-populist aims, ensuring that the president was selected by a body of electors rather than individual voters.
Some notable framers include George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, James Wilson, Gouverneur Morris, Edmond Randolph, and Roger Sherman.
