Omar Bennett
The U.S. Constitution, the supreme law of the United States of America, is the result of months of passionate debate and thoughtful deliberation among delegates. It was written and signed in 1787 in Philadelphia, during the Philadelphia Convention, now known as the Constitutional Convention. The Constitution was drafted by 55 delegates, including George Washington, who was unanimously elected as the president of the convention, and James Madison, who believed that the existing government was inadequate and that the central government had insufficient power. The Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, and it was submitted for ratification. It superseded the Articles of Confederation, the nation's first constitution, on March 4, 1789.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | May 5th, 1787 – September 17th, 1787 |
| Location | Philadelphia |
| Key contributors | James Madison, George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Thomas Paine, Gouverneur Morris, William Paterson, James Wilson, Roger Sherman, George Mason, John Jay, Edmund Randolph, John Dunlap, David Claypoole, Robert Morris, John Tyler, Charles Pinckney |
| Number of delegates | 55 |
| Number of signatures | 39 |
| Number of states needed for ratification | 9 |
| Number of states that ratified | 11 |
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What You'll Learn
- James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and George Washington feared collapse without a new constitution
- Washington was unanimously elected president of the convention, overseeing the debate
- Madison wanted a strong central government to provide order and stability
- Roger Sherman proposed the Connecticut Compromise, balancing large and small state interests
- George Mason wanted a Bill of Rights, which was later added as the first 10 amendments
James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and George Washington feared collapse without a new constitution
James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and George Washington are often credited with creating the US Constitution. Just a few years after the Revolutionary War, these men feared that their young country was on the brink of collapse. America's first constitution, the Articles of Confederation, gave the Confederation Congress the power to make rules and request funds from the states, but it had no enforcement powers, couldn't regulate commerce, or print money. The states' disputes over territory, war pensions, taxation, and trade threatened to tear the country apart.
Madison, Hamilton, and Washington believed that a strong central government was necessary to save the nation. They became known as Federalists, and they supported the creation of a new constitution that would provide a more perfect union. Madison, in particular, wanted a strong central government to provide order and stability, while still maintaining state power when "subordinately useful". He and Hamilton issued a report calling upon Congress to summon delegates from all the states to meet and discuss commercial problems. This led to the Constitutional Convention, which assembled in Philadelphia in May 1787.
The Constitutional Convention was tasked with revising the existing government, but the delegates ultimately created a completely new form of government. The convention included 38 delegates, with George Reed signing for John Dickinson of Delaware, bringing the total number of signatures to 39. The delegates were wary of centralized power and loyal to their states, so they crafted compromises to create a powerful central government that addressed a wide range of interests and views.
The ratification process for the new Constitution was not easy. The Federalists needed at least nine of the 13 states to ratify, but they faced opposition from Anti-Federalists, who believed that the Constitution gave too much power to the federal government and reminded them of the centralized government they had just overthrown. The Anti-Federalists also argued that the Constitution lacked a bill of rights. The debate was fierce, and at one point, a Philadelphia mob dragged two Anti-Federalist members through the streets to provide the necessary numbers for a quorum. Eventually, 11 states ratified the Constitution, and it became the law of the land.
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Washington was unanimously elected president of the convention, overseeing the debate
The United States Constitution is one of the world's most emulated constitutions, and its creation was a long and arduous process. The Constitutional Convention, also known as the Philadelphia Convention, the Federal Convention, or the Grand Convention at Philadelphia, met in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from May 14 to September 17, 1787. The convention was tasked with revising the Articles of Confederation, which were seen as inadequate in holding the newly independent nation together. The Articles gave the Confederation Congress the power to make rules and request funds from the states, but it lacked enforcement powers, the ability to regulate commerce, or print money.
General George Washington was unanimously elected president of the convention, overseeing the debate. Washington was initially reluctant to attend the convention and had to be persuaded by contemporaries such as James Madison and General Henry Knox. They believed that Washington's presence and leadership were necessary due to the great trust and respect he had accumulated during the war. Washington's role was to maintain order and provide a deciding vote on various proposals, allowing the delegates to debate the foundation of the Constitution themselves. He participated little in the debates, seeing his function as nonpartisan. He described the creation of the document as a composition for a "diversity of interests which were to be reconciled."
The delegates, a mix of Federalists and anti-Federalists, fiercely debated the structure and powers of a new federal government. One of the more vigorous debates surrounded the idea of an executive branch of government. The delegates argued whether the executive should be a single person or a board of three. Eventually, a clear majority voted for a single executive, with the knowledge that Washington would probably be the first President.
After four months of intense debate, the delegates finally agreed, and the Constitution was born. On September 17, 1787, 38 delegates signed the Constitution, with George Reed signing for John Dickinson of Delaware, bringing the total to 39 signatures. The delegates had created a powerful central government, representing a variety of interests and views. The Constitution then had to be ratified by nine of the thirteen states to enact the new government.
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Madison wanted a strong central government to provide order and stability
James Madison, along with Alexander Hamilton and George Washington, believed that the young nation was on the brink of collapse. America's first constitution, the Articles of Confederation, had no enforcement powers, could not regulate commerce, and could not print money. The states' disputes over territory, war pensions, taxation, and trade threatened to tear the country apart.
Madison thought he had the answer. He wanted a strong central government to provide order and stability. "Let it be tried then," he wrote, "whether any middle ground can be taken which will at once support a due supremacy of the national authority," while maintaining state power only when "subordinately useful." Madison, a nationalist, believed that the convention should forge a new government with three branches—legislative, executive, and judicial—each structured to check the other. He wanted the central government to have veto power over laws enacted by state legislatures.
Madison's proposal for a strong central government was not without opposition. Some state politicians feared losing power, there was a general revulsion against taxation, and there was a suspicion that a centralised government would be insensitive to local interests. Additionally, debtors feared that a new government would "restrain the means of cheating creditors." Despite these concerns, Madison and his allies were successful in persuading members that any new constitution should be ratified through conventions of the people and not by Congress or state legislatures.
The Constitutional Convention of 1787 was called to revise the ailing Articles of Confederation. However, the Convention soon abandoned the Articles, drafting a new Constitution with a much stronger national government. After a long and often bitter debate, eleven states ratified the Constitution, which instituted a new form of government for the United States. On September 17, 1787, 38 delegates signed the Constitution, with George Reed signing on behalf of John Dickinson of Delaware, bringing the total number of signatures to 39.
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Roger Sherman proposed the Connecticut Compromise, balancing large and small state interests
Several key figures are credited with the creation of the US Constitution, including James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and George Washington. The Constitution was drafted during the Constitutional Convention of 1787, which was convened to address the shortcomings of the Articles of Confederation, America's first constitution.
Among the delegates to the Constitutional Convention was Roger Sherman, a delegate from Connecticut. Sherman played a significant role in shaping the structure and representation of the legislative branch of the US government through his proposal known as the Connecticut Compromise or the Great Compromise.
The Connecticut Compromise was proposed by Sherman to address the disagreement between delegates from large and small states regarding representation in the legislature. The large states, with their greater populations and resources, argued for proportional representation, while the small states feared their interests would be drowned out and insisted on equal representation.
Sherman's proposal retained the bicameral legislature proposed by Edmund Randolph of Virginia, known as the Virginia Plan or Randolph Plan. The bicameral legislature consisted of a lower house or House of Representatives, and an upper house or Senate.
In the lower house, the Connecticut Compromise called for proportional representation, with each state having one representative for every 40,000 inhabitants, including three-fifths of the state's enslaved population. This ensured that larger states had a greater say in this chamber.
In the upper house or Senate, the compromise required equal representation among the states, with each state having two members. This guaranteed that smaller states had an equal voice in this chamber, regardless of their population size.
The Connecticut Compromise was a pivotal moment in the drafting of the US Constitution, as it balanced the interests of large and small states and resolved one of the most contentious issues during the Constitutional Convention. It shaped the legislative structure and representation that continues to define the US Congress today.
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George Mason wanted a Bill of Rights, which was later added as the first 10 amendments
The creation of the US Constitution was a collaborative effort, with several key figures involved. James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and George Washington are often credited with spearheading the process, as they feared the young country was on the brink of collapse without a stronger central government. Madison, a delegate to the Constitutional Convention, proposed giving the Continental Congress the power to regulate commerce, and he and Hamilton issued a report calling for a convention of delegates from all states.
However, one person who is sometimes overlooked in the creation of the Constitution is George Mason. Mason, a plantation owner and prominent figure in his home state of Virginia, was a passionate advocate for individual freedoms and played a significant role in shaping the Constitution's content and language. He is known as the "Forgotten Founder," as history books often undercredit his contributions.
George Mason is best known for his unwavering commitment to a Bill of Rights, which he believed was essential to protecting individual liberties. He was one of three delegates who refused to sign the Constitution in its initial form, arguing that it needed a bill of rights to safeguard these freedoms. While some supporters of the Constitution, including James Madison, initially disagreed, the issue became a sticking point in the ratification process, particularly in the key state of Massachusetts.
Mason's influence extended beyond his own lifetime. In 1776, he authored the Virginia Declaration of Rights, which became a foundational document in American history. It served as a preamble to the Virginia Constitution and outlined human rights in greater detail than the Declaration of Independence. This declaration directly influenced the French Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen of 1789 and continues to echo in documents like the United Nations' Declaration of Human Rights.
Ultimately, George Mason's efforts bore fruit with the passage of the federal Bill of Rights on December 15, 1791, providing the first ten amendments to the Constitution. These amendments were designed to address the concerns of Anti-Federalists, who opposed the creation of a powerful central government without explicit protections for individual rights. The addition of the Bill of Rights was a crucial step in securing widespread support for the Constitution and shaping the future of American governance.
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Frequently asked questions
The creation of the US Constitution is credited to a group of people, including James Madison, George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, and Benjamin Franklin.
Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Paine, and John Adams are also often credited with contributing to the US Constitution.
James Madison is often called the "Father of the Constitution". He played a significant role in the document's creation and helped lay the groundwork for the new government. He is credited with creating the Virginia Plan, which formed the basis of the Constitution's structure.
George Washington was unanimously elected president of the Constitutional Convention. His presence provided a sense of focus and direction, and he helped oversee the debate and shape the direction of the new government.
Several other individuals contributed to the US Constitution, including George Mason, Roger Sherman, William Paterson, James Wilson, and Gouverneur Morris, who is often credited with writing the Constitution's final draft.
