Founders' Committee: The Men Behind The Us Constitution

The US Constitution was not written by any one person, but by a group of delegates appointed to a Committee of Detail, which was chaired by John Rutledge and included Edmund Randolph, Oliver Ellsworth, James Wilson, and Nathaniel Gorham. The committee drafted the Constitution based on the Virginia Plan, created by James Madison, which called for three branches of government, a bicameral legislature, and proportional representation in the legislature. The Committee of Detail's draft was then revised by the Committee of Style, which included Alexander Hamilton, William Samuel Johnson, Rufus King, Gouverneur Morris, and James Madison. Morris is often credited with writing the Constitution's final draft.

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The Committee of Detail

The committee was responsible for creating the first draft of the Constitution. This draft was based on the Virginia Plan, created by James Madison, which called for three branches of government, a bicameral legislature, and proportional representation in the legislature. However, the committee made significant changes to the Virginia Plan, including adding the idea of federalism, in which power is divided between the federal government and the states.

After five weeks of debate over the committee's draft, the Constitutional Convention appointed a committee of style to prepare a final version of the Constitution. This committee, known as the Committee of Style and Arrangement, included five members: Alexander Hamilton (New York), William Samuel Johnson (Connecticut), Rufus King (Massachusetts), Gouverneur Morris (Pennsylvania), and James Madison (Virginia). Gouverneur Morris is often credited with writing the Constitution's final draft, and he was responsible for much of the language and style of the document that we are familiar with today.

John Rutledge, Edmund Randolph, Nathaniel Gorham, Oliver Ellsworth, and James Wilson

John Rutledge, an American legislator, was born in Charleston, South Carolina, in September 1739. He served as an associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court from 1789 to 1791 and was the second chief justice of the United States. He supported slavery and argued in favour of dividing society into classes as a basis for representation. He also recommended granting indefinite powers of legislation to the national government to promote general welfare.

Edmund Randolph, a delegate from Virginia to the Constitutional Convention, introduced the Virginia Plan as an outline for a new national government. He argued against the importation of enslaved people and advocated for a strong central government. Randolph was appointed the first Attorney General of the US in 1789, serving in Washington's cabinet. He made important contributions to the nation's structure and its relationship with the states.

Nathaniel Gorham represented Massachusetts in the Continental Congress and at the Constitutional Convention. He served as Chairman of the Committee of the Whole and was a frequent speaker during the Convention, favoring a strong central government to facilitate interstate commerce and international trade. He also advocated for long terms for the President and legislatures to bring stability to the new government.

James Wilson, a Pennsylvanian and Scottish founder, is known for his roles in drafting the Constitution's Preamble and helping to frame the presidency and judiciary, including the Electoral College. He favored a single, independent president, elected for a short term and eligible for re-election, with the power to veto legislation. He also supported proportional representation based on the principle of popular sovereignty.

The Committee of Style

The Committee of Detail was responsible for creating the first draft of the US Constitution. The committee included five members: John Rutledge (South Carolina), Edmund Randolph (Virginia), Nathaniel Gorham (Massachusetts), Oliver Ellsworth (Connecticut), and James Wilson (Pennsylvania). The committee drafted a document based on the Virginia Plan, created by James Madison, which called for three branches of government, a bicameral legislature, and proportional representation in the legislature.

Once the Committee of Detail had created the first draft, the delegates appointed the Committee of Style to make changes and revise the document. The Committee of Style was tasked with turning the draft into a finished product. The committee included five members: Alexander Hamilton (New York), William Samuel Johnson (Connecticut), Rufus King (Massachusetts), Gouverneur Morris (Pennsylvania), and James Madison (Virginia). Gouverneur Morris is often credited with writing the Constitution's final draft, and he was responsible for creating much of the language and style of the document. James Madison, often called the "Father of the Constitution," played a significant role in the document's creation and helped lay the groundwork for the new government.

The final draft, presented to the convention on September 12, contained seven articles, a preamble, and a closing endorsement, of which Morris was the primary author. Several of the delegates were disappointed in the result, with some leaving before the ceremony and three refusing to sign. Of the thirty-nine signers, Benjamin Franklin summed up, 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 accepted the Constitution, adding, "because I expect no better and because I am not sure that it is not the best."

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Alexander Hamilton, William Samuel Johnson, Rufus King, Gouverneur Morris, and James Madison

The US Constitution is the supreme law of the land in the United States of America. It superseded the Articles of Confederation, the nation's first constitution, on March 4, 1789. 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 US Constitution was created to address these issues and to establish a stronger national government.

The US Constitution was not written by any one person; rather, it was a group effort by the delegates who attended the Constitutional Convention. These delegates included politicians, business owners, lawyers, and military leaders. Among them were Alexander Hamilton, William Samuel Johnson, Rufus King, Gouverneur Morris, and James Madison, who were members of the Committee of Style, tasked with turning the draft Constitution into a finished product.

Alexander Hamilton, a delegate from New York, played a significant role in the creation of the US Constitution. He was also a member of the committee that drafted the rules for the Constitutional Convention and later wrote the Federalist Papers with James Madison and John Jay to explain the significance of the Constitution and persuade states to ratify it.

William Samuel Johnson, a delegate from Connecticut, was also a member of the Committee of Style. He worked alongside Hamilton, Morris, and Madison to finalize the language and style of the Constitution.

Rufus King, a delegate from Massachusetts, was another important member of the Committee of Style. He contributed to the finalization of the Constitution, ensuring that it accurately reflected the decisions made during the Constitutional Convention.

Gouverneur Morris, a delegate from Pennsylvania, is often credited with writing the Constitution's final draft. He played an influential role in the Committee of Style and was responsible for much of the language and style of the document that we know today. Morris is known as the "penman of the Constitution."

James Madison, a delegate from Virginia, is often referred to as the "Father of the Constitution." He laid the groundwork for the new government and created the Virginia Plan, which formed the basis of the Constitution's structure. Madison was a driving force behind the convention and a fervent advocate for the Constitution. He also contributed to the Constitution by writing the first ten amendments, known as the Bill of Rights.

The Connecticut Compromise

The compromise ended the stalemate between patriots and nationalists, leading to further compromises and accommodations. It was a significant step in the creation of the United States Constitution, which would become the supreme law of the United States of America, delineating the framework of the federal government. The Constitution superseded the Articles of Confederation on March 4, 1789, and continues to shape the country today.

The Committee of Detail, including John Rutledge, Edmund Randolph, Nathaniel Gorham, Oliver Ellsworth, and James Wilson, was responsible for creating the first draft of the Constitution based on the Connecticut Compromise. The committee made significant changes to the Virginia Plan, including adding the concept of federalism. The Committee of Style, including Alexander Hamilton, William Samuel Johnson, Rufus King, Gouverneur Morris, and James Madison, was then tasked with turning the draft into a finished product. Morris is often credited with writing the Constitution's final draft, while Madison, the "Father of the Constitution," laid the groundwork for its structure and content.

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