Isabella Carter
The United States Constitution was drafted by the Constitutional Convention, which met for the first time on May 25, 1787, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The convention was called to revise the Articles of Confederation, which had been adopted in 1777 but had revealed themselves to be defective over time. The convention soon abandoned the Articles, instead drafting a new Constitution with a stronger national government. The Committee of Detail, composed of John Rutledge, Edmund Randolph, Nathaniel Gorham, Oliver Ellsworth, and James Wilson, was selected to write a first draft constitution. This draft was then revised by the Committee of Style, which included Gouverneur Morris, who is often credited with writing the Constitution's final draft. Morris was responsible for much of the language and style of the document. Other key figures in the drafting and ratification of the Constitution include James Madison, often referred to as the Father of the Constitution, and Benjamin Franklin, whose efforts helped ensure that the final product was acceptable to the majority of delegates.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of first draft | May 25, 1787 |
| Location of first draft | Pennsylvania State House, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| Members of the Committee of Detail | John Rutledge, Edmund Randolph, Nathaniel Gorham, Oliver Ellsworth, James Wilson |
| Number of articles in the first draft | 23 |
| Members of the Committee of Eleven | Abraham Baldwin, George Clymer, John Dickinson, Rufus King, John Langdon, William Livingston, George Mason, James McHenry, Charles C. Pinckney, Roger Sherman, Hugh Williamson |
| Members of the Committee of Style and Arrangement | Alexander Hamilton, William Johnson, Rufus King, James Madison, Gouverneur Morris |
| Primary author of the final draft | Gouverneur Morris |
| Date of signing of the final draft | September 17, 1787 |
| Number of delegates who signed the final draft | 39 |
| Number of states represented by the delegates | 12 |
| States that did not ratify the final draft | Rhode Island |
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What You'll Learn
The Committee of Detail
The committee referenced state constitutions, the Articles of Confederation, plans submitted to the convention, and other available material. They also studied the Convention's resolutions, after which Randolph wrote a rough draft of the constitution, which was then revised by Wilson. The committee reviewed it, and a clean copy was sent to Philadelphia printers John Dunlap and David Claypoole, who printed just enough copies for use by the delegates. The draft was kept secret to avoid controversy.
The committee's report, delivered on August 6, 1787, conformed to the resolutions adopted by the convention, adding some elements. A twenty-three-article (plus preamble) constitution was presented. From August 6 to September 10, the report was discussed, and further compromises were made. The committee continued to meet until early September, making further changes.
The final draft, presented to the convention on September 12, contained seven articles, a preamble and a closing endorsement. Gouverneur Morris, who chaired the convention's Committee of Style, was the primary author of the final draft. On September 17, 1787, after several days of further revision, the Constitutional Convention voted in favor of the Constitution.
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The Committee of Style and Arrangement
Other members of the committee included Alexander Hamilton from New York, William Samuel Johnson from Connecticut, and Rufus King from Massachusetts. Hamilton, who was also a Federalist, repeatedly drew on the language crafted by Morris as he fought for his vision of the Constitution.
On September 17, 1787, 38 delegates signed the Constitution, with George Reed signing for John Dickinson of Delaware, bringing the total number of signatures to 39. Benjamin Franklin, one of the signers, summed up by addressing the convention:
> "There are several parts of this Constitution which I do not at present approve, but I am not sure I shall never approve them. He would accept the Constitution, "because I expect no better and because I am not sure that it is not the best".
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The Committee of Eleven
One of the critical contributions of the Committee of Eleven was their proposal for resolving the impasse over representation in the House and Senate. They recommended that the Senate have the power to try impeachments brought by the House of Representatives, with a conviction requiring the concurrence of two-thirds of the members present. This proposal was debated and ultimately passed, with the addition of Gouverneur Morris's suggestion that "every member shall be on oath."
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The Constitutional Convention
The convention was not meant to create new laws or make piecemeal alterations, but to "render the federal constitution adequate to the exigencies of government and the preservation of the Union". The convention was tasked with tackling basic issues, including the essential structure of the government, the basis of representation, and the regulation of interstate trade.
The drafting of the Constitution began with the appointment of a Committee of Detail, composed of John Rutledge, Edmund Randolph, Nathaniel Gorham, Oliver Ellsworth, and James Wilson. This committee was tasked with writing a first draft constitution that reflected the resolutions passed by the convention. After five weeks of debate over the committee's draft, the convention appointed a Committee of Style to prepare a final version. This committee included Alexander Hamilton, William Johnson, Rufus King, James Madison, and Gouverneur Morris, who is often credited with writing the final draft.
The final draft of the Constitution was presented to the convention on September 12, and it was signed on September 17, 1787. The document was then submitted to the Congress of the Confederation in New York City, and the ratification process began. The final state, Rhode Island, ratified the Constitution on May 29, 1790.
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The Congress of the Confederation
The Confederation Congress was tasked with addressing the limitations of the central government, including challenges in assembling delegates, raising funds, and regulating commerce. It incurred significant debts during the Revolutionary War, and the federal assumption of state debts became a major issue in the Constitutional Convention. The Congress also took notable actions, such as the Land Ordinance of 1785 and Northwest Ordinance, which created territorial governments and set protocols for admitting new states.
In 1787, the Confederation Congress called for a convention of state delegates in Philadelphia to propose revisions to the Articles of Confederation. This convention, known as the Constitutional Convention, was intended to strengthen the federal constitution and address the exigencies of government and the preservation of the Union. The delegates at this convention ultimately drafted a new constitution, which was submitted to the Congress of the Confederation on September 17, 1787.
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Frequently asked questions
The Committee of Detail was composed of John Rutledge, Edmund Randolph, Nathaniel Gorham, Oliver Ellsworth, and James Wilson.
The Committee of Style and Arrangement was composed of Alexander Hamilton, William Johnson, Rufus King, James Madison, and Gouverneur Morris.
Gouverneur Morris was a delegate from Pennsylvania who played a vital role in drafting the Constitution. He was responsible for writing down the final version of the document and creating much of its language and style. Morris is often credited with writing the Constitution's final draft and is later known as the "penman of the Constitution."
James Madison was a delegate from Virginia who played a major role in drafting the Constitution. He is often referred to as the "Father of the Constitution" and his notes form the largest single source of materials for the Constitutional Convention records.
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