Omar Bennett
The United States Constitution, which came into force on March 4, 1789, is one of the most emulated constitutions in the world. It was the culmination of four months of fiery and intense debate in Philadelphia, where 55 delegates from 13 states came together to revise the existing government, but ultimately created a new one. The Constitution was signed by 38 delegates, and its creation was influenced by several key figures, including James Madison, George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, and Roger Sherman.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of delegates | 55 |
| Age range of delegates | 26-81 |
| Number of signatures | 39 |
| Leader of the convention | George Washington |
| Key contributors | James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, Roger Sherman, William Paterson, George Mason |
| Philosophical influences | Montesquieu, Locke, Edward Coke, William Blackstone, Hume, Magna Carta, Enlightenment rationalism, English common law |
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What You'll Learn
James Madison, the 'father of the Constitution'
James Madison, famously known as the "father of the Constitution", was a driving force behind the Constitutional Convention. Madison, along with Alexander Hamilton and George Washington, 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. Madison, therefore, proposed a strong central government to provide order and stability.
Madison came well-prepared for all arguments against the creation of a new government. He was instrumental in inviting the several states to attend a convention at Annapolis, Maryland, in September 1786, to discuss commercial problems. Following the convention, Madison and a young lawyer from New York named Alexander Hamilton issued a report calling upon Congress to summon delegates of all the states to meet. Madison also collaborated with John Tyler in the Virginia assembly to propose that the Continental Congress be empowered to regulate commerce throughout the Confederation.
After the Constitution was written and signed, Madison wrote the Federalist Papers with Alexander Hamilton and John Jay. These 85 essays explained the significance of the Constitution and sought to persuade states to ratify it. Madison also contributed to the Constitution by writing the first 10 amendments that were adopted by the first Congress. These amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, were advocated for by George Mason, who famously said he would "sooner chop off my right hand" than sign the Constitution without them.
The Constitution's main provisions include seven articles that define the basic framework of the federal government. The first three articles embody the doctrine of the separation of powers, dividing the federal government into three branches: the legislative, consisting of the bicameral Congress (Article I); the executive, consisting of the president and subordinate officers (Article II); and the judicial, consisting of the Supreme Court and other federal courts (Article III).
The Constitutional Convention assembled in Philadelphia in May 1787, with 55 delegates coming together to make small changes to their current government. However, they ended up creating a new one, and on September 17, 1787, 38 delegates signed the Constitution, bypassing state legislatures and calling for special ratifying conventions in each state. The Constitution superseded the Articles of Confederation on March 4, 1789, and it stands today as one of the longest-lived and most emulated constitutions in the world.
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Alexander Hamilton, who wrote the Federalist Papers
The United States Constitution is one of the longest-lived and most emulated constitutions in the world. The document was signed by 38 delegates, and George Reed signed on behalf of John Dickinson of Delaware, bringing the total number of signatures to 39. The delegates, representing diverse interests and views, crafted compromises to create a powerful central government.
Alexander Hamilton, a New York lawyer, is one of the key contributors to the US Constitution. Hamilton, along with James Madison and George Washington, recognized the shortcomings of the Articles of Confederation, America's first constitution, which lacked enforcement powers and the ability to regulate commerce or print money. Hamilton played a crucial role in persuading Congress to convene a Grand Convention of state delegates to revise the Articles.
Hamilton, Madison, and John Jay wrote the Federalist Papers, a collection of 85 articles and essays, under the pseudonym "Publius." These papers aimed to promote the ratification of the Constitution and explain its significance. Hamilton is believed to have authored 51 of these essays, with Madison contributing 29 and Jay writing five. The Federalist Papers addressed concerns raised by the Anti-Federalists, who opposed the Constitution due to its powerful central government and lack of a bill of rights.
Hamilton's Federalist Papers tackled important topics such as the dangers of dissensions between states, the need to guard against "factions," and the question of how to govern a large and diverse country justly. He also explored the concept of checks and balances within the government and advocated for a separation of powers. Additionally, Hamilton's papers defended the provision granting the president the power to make treaties with the consent of two-thirds of the Senate and argued for a unitary executive branch for energy and safety.
Alexander Hamilton's contributions to the Federalist Papers played a significant role in shaping the understanding and interpretation of the US Constitution. His writings continue to be studied and analyzed as a key element of America's constitutional history.
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George Washington, elected president of the convention
George Washington, the commander-in-chief of the American Revolutionary Army, was elected president of the Constitutional Convention in 1787. Washington was initially reluctant to get involved in politics, but it became clear that no one else could lead the convention. He was unanimously elected as president of the convention on May 14, 1787.
Washington had long been involved in military matters and issues of governance. He had served as a surveyor, plantation owner, and military commander, and had played a key role in the American Revolution. Washington was a nationalist who believed in the need for a strong union of the states, and he had expressed concerns about the disintegration of the nation. He had also called for a strong central government, stating that the Articles of Confederation were just "a rope of sand".
As president of the convention, Washington worked to forge consensus among the delegates, who were a group of passionate federalists and anti-federalists. He remained relatively quiet during the debates, allowing the delegates to discuss the foundation of the Constitution themselves. Washington believed that America should have a strong central government and a single executive leader, but he did not allow his bias to sway the other delegates. He participated mainly to keep order and provide deciding votes on various proposals.
Washington successfully guided the convention to its historic conclusion in September 1787, when all the remaining states voted for the Constitution. His support was key to the ratification of the newly proposed Constitution, and his image was used by Federalists to support its ratification. Washington's private letters reveal that he supported the Constitution, and he expressed a desire to see it adopted despite its imperfections. He praised the amendment provision, which provided a method for correcting problems that became apparent after its implementation.
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Roger Sherman, who proposed the Great Compromise
The United States Constitution is a historic document that has been shaped by several key figures. One of the most notable contributors is Roger Sherman, who proposed the "Great Compromise" or the "Connecticut Compromise".
Sherman was a delegate from Connecticut and the only founding father to have signed all major documents of the Revolutionary era: The Continental Association of 1774, the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, and the Constitution. He played a crucial role in addressing disputes between larger and smaller states during the Constitutional Convention of 1787.
The Great Compromise, proposed by Sherman, created a dual system of state representation in the US Congress. It retained the bicameral legislature, with proportional representation of the states in the lower house, or the House of Representatives, and equal representation of each state in the upper house, or the Senate. In the House of Representatives, each state's representation would be proportional to its population, while in the Senate, each state would have the same number of votes. This compromise ensured that both large and small states had a say in the legislative process and that no single group dominated the other.
Sherman's proposal built upon earlier plans, such as the Virginia Plan (also known as the Randolph Plan) proposed by Edmund Randolph, which suggested proportional representation in both houses based on state population. However, Sherman's compromise modified this idea by combining it with the concept of equal state representation in the upper house. This modification was crucial in gaining the support of larger states, who initially favoured solely proportional representation. To make the proposal more acceptable to the larger states, Benjamin Franklin further modified it by adding the requirement that revenue bills originate in the House.
The Great Compromise was a significant step in the creation of the US Constitution, and it showcases Roger Sherman's important contribution to the nation's legislative structure and representation. His proposal helped resolve conflicts between states of different sizes and shaped the way the US Congress functions today.
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Benjamin Franklin, influenced by European Enlightenment thinkers
Benjamin Franklin was a prominent Enlightenment thinker, who was influenced by European Enlightenment thinkers. He was born in 1706 in Boston, Massachusetts, and grew up in a strict Calvinist family. However, he gradually moved away from traditional Christian teachings and became skeptical of organized religion, focusing instead on moral virtue. Like other Enlightenment thinkers, Franklin believed that societies should promote virtue by tolerating all religious beliefs. He argued that governments should not support any particular religion but instead trust that truth would prevail through inquiry.
Franklin was a true man of the Enlightenment, embracing science, reason, natural human rights, free thinking, and morality. He was an important American scientist, inventor, and printer, known for his innovative scientific discoveries, such as proving that lightning was a form of electricity. He also founded the American Philosophical Society in 1743, ensuring that North Americans played a key role in significant scientific discoveries. Franklin's writings, including his contributions to the United States Constitution, reflected Enlightenment principles.
Franklin was influenced by European Enlightenment thinkers such as David Hume, an eighteenth-century Scottish philosopher whose works he studied while in Edinburgh in 1760. Both Franklin and Hume embraced the idea that high-ranking public officials should not receive a salary and that the lower class was a better judge of character. Other European Enlightenment thinkers who influenced the Constitution include Montesquieu, John Locke, Edward Coke, and William Blackstone.
Franklin's beliefs and contributions to the United States Constitution were shaped by his Enlightenment influences. He stated that the founding fathers had examined different forms of government in ancient history and modern Europe but found none suitable for their circumstances. Despite his reservations about existing forms of government, Franklin recognized the need for a central government and supported the creation of the Constitution, acknowledging its faults and the potential challenges of creating a better one.
In conclusion, Benjamin Franklin, influenced by European Enlightenment thinkers, played a significant role in shaping the United States Constitution. He brought Enlightenment principles to the document while also recognizing the unique circumstances and needs of the emerging American nation. Franklin's contributions reflect his Enlightenment influences, including his beliefs in science, reason, human rights, and religious tolerance.
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Frequently asked questions
James Madison is considered the "father of the Constitution". He was a driving force behind the convention and came prepared for all arguments against the creation of a new government. After the Constitution was signed, he wrote the Federalist Papers with Alexander Hamilton and John Jay.
George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, Gouverneur Morris, Roger Sherman, William Paterson, and George Mason all played key roles in the creation of the Constitution.
The ideas of unalienable rights, the separation of powers, and the structure of the Constitution were largely influenced by European Enlightenment thinkers, including Montesquieu, John Locke, Edward Coke, and William Blackstone.
