Framers Of The Us Constitution: Key Figures

The Constitution of the United States of America was created during the Philadelphia Convention, now known as the Constitutional Convention, which convened from May 25 to September 17, 1787. The convention was convened due to fears that the young country was on the brink of collapse, with disputes over territory, war pensions, taxation, and trade threatening to tear it apart. The convention was presided over by George Washington, with James Madison, its principal author, and Alexander Hamilton also playing key roles. The final draft of the proposed Constitution was signed by 39 of the 55 original delegates, with three refusing to sign.

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The Constitutional Convention of 1787

The initial purpose of the convention was to revise and amend the Articles of Confederation, which served as the nation's first constitution. However, the delegates quickly moved beyond their original mandate and began drafting a new constitution, reflecting their desire for a stronger national government. The convention was conducted under an oath of secrecy, allowing the delegates to speak freely and deliberate on the future course of the nation.

The convention witnessed passionate debates over the structure and powers of the federal government. One of the key points of contention was congressional representation. The large states advocated for proportional representation based on population, while smaller states demanded equal representation. This dispute was resolved through the Connecticut Compromise, proposed by Roger Sherman, which formed the basis for the bicameral legislature, with the House of Representatives proportional to population and the Senate providing equal representation to each state.

Another contentious issue was slavery. To appease southern states, the delegates agreed to protect the slave trade for 20 years and allowed states to count three-fifths of their slave population for representation purposes. These compromises, though controversial, were necessary to maintain the Union.

The final draft of the Constitution was completed by Gouverneur Morris, who is often referred to as the "penman of the Constitution." On September 17, 1787, 38 delegates signed the document, with George Reed signing on behalf of the absent John Dickinson of Delaware, bringing the total signatures to 39. The Constitution then underwent a ratification process, with nine states needing to approve it for it to come into effect. This was achieved in June 1788, and the new government under the Constitution commenced on March 4, 1789.

The Committee of Detail

The committee was given a week and a half to prepare the first draft of the Constitution. They referenced state constitutions, the Articles of Confederation, plans submitted to the convention, and other available material. The Declaration of Independence also acted as an important guide for its ideals of self-government and fundamental human rights. The writings of European political philosophers such as Montesquieu and John Locke were also influential.

The committee used the original Virginia Plan, the decisions of the convention on modifications to that plan, and other sources to produce the first full draft. Much of what was included in this draft, such as powers given to Congress, had not been previously debated or included in any other plan before the convention. Most of these were uncontroversial and went unchallenged, so much of what was included in this first draft made it into the final version of the constitution without debate. The committee decided mostly on issues that hadn't been deliberated but weren't likely to be contested.

The Committee of Style

The Committee comprised five members: William Samuel Johnson, Alexander Hamilton, Gouverneur Morris, James Madison, and Rufus King. These individuals were chosen by the Convention to "revise the stile of and arrange the articles which had been agreed to by the House".

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The Federalist Papers

The primary purpose of The Federalist Papers was to promote the ratification of the Constitution of the United States, which had been drafted by the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in the summer of 1787. The Constitution was designed to address the shortcomings of the Articles of Confederation, which was the nation's first constitution but lacked enforcement powers and the ability to regulate commerce or print money.

Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay, the authors of The Federalist Papers, were all prominent figures in the creation of the Constitution. Hamilton and Madison were members of the Constitutional Convention, and Madison is often credited with being the Father of the Constitution. George Washington, who was unanimously elected president of the Philadelphia convention, also played a crucial role in the Constitution's formation.

The authors of The Federalist Papers initially attempted to hide their identities due to Hamilton and Madison's involvement in the Constitutional Convention. However, their identities were eventually discerned, and the work is now recognized as a significant contribution to the interpretation of the Constitution's intentions. The Federalist Papers continue to be referenced as a valuable source for understanding the thoughts and purposes behind the drafting of the Constitution.

Ratification by the States

The US Constitution was signed by 38 of the 41 delegates present at the Constitutional Convention on September 17, 1787. It was then sent to the states for ratification, with Article VII stipulating that ratification by 9 of the 13 states was required for the document to come into effect. The founders bypassed state legislatures, instead calling for special ratifying conventions in each state.

The Federalists, led by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay, argued that the Constitution provided a necessary framework for a strong, effective central government capable of unifying the nation, protecting against foreign threats, and managing domestic affairs. They believed that the checks and balances built into the Constitution would prevent any one branch of government from becoming too powerful. George Washington also supported the ratification of the Constitution.

The Anti-Federalists, on the other hand, feared that the Constitution concentrated too much power in the federal government, undermining the states' rights. They also criticized the absence of a Bill of Rights, arguing that the Constitution did not adequately protect individual liberties such as freedom of speech, religion, and the press. Notable Anti-Federalists included Patrick Henry, George Mason, and Samuel Adams.

The ratification process was not smooth, with intense debates and significant opposition in several states. Delaware was the first state to unanimously ratify the Constitution on December 7, 1787, followed by Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Massachusetts, which had intense debates, ultimately ratified the Constitution on February 6, 1788, after Federalists agreed to support amendments addressing concerns over the lack of a Bill of Rights. By June 1788, eight states had ratified the Constitution.

On June 21, 1788, New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify the Constitution, officially ending government under the Articles of Confederation and ensuring that the new Constitution would go into effect. The remaining states, including Virginia and New York, soon followed suit. The Constitution was not ratified by all states until May 29, 1790, when Rhode Island, the last holdout, finally approved the document.

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