Eleanor Finch
The delegates from New York at the Constitutional Convention were Alexander Hamilton, Robert Yates, and John Lansing Jr. Hamilton was a dedicated nationalist and a leader of the independence movement in New York. He was a strong advocate for a Constitutional Convention and played a key role in securing New York's ratification. However, he took a back seat at the convention itself due to his state's antinationalist delegation. Yates and Lansing Jr. were both opposed to a strong central government and left the convention early, feeling that it was exceeding its mandate to revise the Articles of Confederation. Gouverneur Morris, who had drafted New York's first constitution, was also a leading figure at the convention, known for his analytical skills and satirical wit.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Names of the delegates | Robert Yates, John Lansing Jr., and Alexander Hamilton |
| Number of delegates | 3 |
| Date of appointment | March 6, 1787 |
| Purpose | Revising the Articles of Confederation |
| Location | Philadelphia |
| Signatory status | Only Alexander Hamilton signed the document |
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What You'll Learn
- Robert Yates, John Lansing Jr. and Alexander Hamilton were New York's delegates
- Two of the three delegates abandoned the convention
- Hamilton was critical in securing New York's ratification
- Hamilton was the only delegate from New York to sign the document
- Gouverneur Morris was a leading figure at the convention
Robert Yates, John Lansing Jr. and Alexander Hamilton were New York's delegates
Robert Yates, John Lansing Jr., and Alexander Hamilton were New York's delegates at the Constitutional Convention, which took place in Philadelphia from May 25 to September 17, 1787. The convention, which ultimately debated and ratified the Constitution of the United States, was one of the most significant events in American history.
Yates, Lansing Jr., and Hamilton were appointed by the New York Assembly as delegates to the convention. Yates and Lansing Jr. were both opposed to a centralized government and believed the convention was exceeding its instructions by drafting an entirely new constitution instead of revising the existing Articles of Confederation. Yates, a recognized leader of the Antifederalists in the 1780s, had previously served on the Albany committee of safety and represented his county in four provincial congresses. He also played a key role in drafting the first constitution for New York State and served as the state's chief justice from 1790 to 1798. Lansing Jr., a wealthy individual with a large estate and a lucrative law practice, had served in the New York Assembly and as Albany's mayor before becoming a delegate.
Hamilton, on the other hand, was a dedicated nationalist and a leader of the independence movement in New York. He had served in the Continental Congress and played a crucial role in advocating for a Constitutional Convention. Despite his nationalism, Hamilton felt the Constitution was deficient in many respects. He collaborated with John Jay and James Madison in writing "The Federalist" and was critical in securing New York's ratification of the Constitution. Hamilton also served as Secretary of the Treasury when the new government began in 1789, working to stabilize national finances and shape the future of the country.
It is worth noting that Yates and Lansing Jr. abandoned the convention on July 10, leaving Hamilton as the only one of New York's three delegates who remained and signed the finished document.
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Two of the three delegates abandoned the convention
The Constitutional Convention, which took place in Philadelphia from May 25 to September 17, 1787, was one of the most significant events in American history. The convention debated and ratified the Constitution of the United States.
New York appointed three delegates to the convention: Alexander Hamilton, John Lansing Jr., and Robert Yates. Two of these three delegates, Lansing and Yates, abandoned the convention on July 10, 1787, and did not return. They took this action because they believed the convention was exceeding its instructions. Lansing and Yates had expected that the delegates would simply discuss revising the existing Articles of Confederation. Instead, the convention moved towards writing an entirely new constitution.
Lansing and Yates were opposed to the creation of a centralized government, and they wrote a joint letter to Governor Clinton detailing the dangers of such a government and the illegitimacy of the convention. They believed that a strong central government would diminish the sovereignty of the states.
Despite the departure of Lansing and Yates, Alexander Hamilton remained at the convention and occasionally spoke during the debates. Hamilton was a dedicated nationalist and a proponent of a new constitution. He played a surprisingly small part in the debates, partly because he was frequently absent on legal business. Hamilton was critical in securing New York's ratification of the Constitution.
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Hamilton was critical in securing New York's ratification
Alexander Hamilton was a delegate at the New York Ratifying Convention, which took place in Poughkeepsie from 17 June to 26 July 1788. The convention was called by the New York legislature to ratify or reject the proposed Constitution. Hamilton was one of 19 Federalist delegates facing a group of 47 Anti-Federalists.
Hamilton played a critical role in securing New York's ratification of the Constitution. He spoke 26 times over six weeks, arguing eloquently, passionately, and logically, and he successfully addressed the Anti-Federalists' concerns. Hamilton's persuasive abilities and supreme logic helped to ensure the Constitution's approval.
Hamilton's performance at the convention was impressive, especially given that he was outnumbered and that New York was one of the last major states to ratify the Constitution. Without New York's ratification, the new government would have inevitably split into separate confederacies.
Hamilton's written work also contributed to gaining support for the Constitution. He collaborated with John Jay and James Madison to write The Federalist Papers, a collection of essays that convinced Americans across the country to support the Constitution. Hamilton wrote 51 of these essays, which proved to be classics of political literature.
Hamilton's efforts in securing New York's ratification of the Constitution were in line with his interest in strengthening the central government. He had previously represented New York at the Annapolis Convention in 1786, where he urged the calling of the Constitutional Convention.
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Hamilton was the only delegate from New York to sign the document
The Constitutional Convention, which took place in Philadelphia from May 25 to September 17, 1787, saw delegates from 12 states come together to debate and ratify the Constitution of the United States. New York was represented by three delegates: Alexander Hamilton, John Lansing Jr., and Robert Yates. However, only one of these delegates, Alexander Hamilton, signed the final document.
Hamilton, a dedicated nationalist, played a key role in orchestrating the groundswell for a Constitutional Convention. He was elected as a delegate to the convention by the New York legislature in 1787. Despite his extreme nationalism, which put him at odds with many of the other delegates, Hamilton was critical in securing New York's ratification of the Constitution. He collaborated with John Jay and James Madison in writing "The Federalist", which campaigned for ratification in New York and Virginia.
Hamilton's fellow delegates from New York, Lansing and Yates, were both disillusioned by the convention. They believed that the delegates had gathered simply to amend the existing Articles of Confederation, rather than write an entirely new constitution. On July 10, Lansing and Yates abandoned the convention with no intention of returning, leaving New York unable to cast any further votes as its rules required all three delegates to be present. Despite this setback, Hamilton continued to participate in the debates and ultimately became the only delegate from New York to sign the final document.
Hamilton's signature on the Constitution was significant, given his influential role in shaping New York's ratification process and his early advocacy for a strong central government. His legal talents and connections secured him a place among the Founding Fathers of the United States, despite his modest participation in the convention debates.
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Gouverneur Morris was a leading figure at the convention
The Constitutional Convention, held in Philadelphia in 1787, saw the drafting of the first constitution for New York State. New York was represented by a delegation of three delegates, one of whom was Gouverneur Morris, a leading figure at the convention. Morris was a member of one of New York's prominent Tory families, and at 35 years old, he was one of the youngest delegates. He was also one of the few delegates who spoke openly against domestic slavery, stating that it was a "nefarious institution".
Morris was a leading Federalist who believed that a strong central government and sound fiscal policy were essential to the survival of the country. He played a key role in drafting the constitution, serving on two central committees: the Committee of Style and Arrangement, and the Committee on Postponed Parts, or the Committee of Eleven. He contributed substantially to the final version of the constitution, particularly in the drafting of the preamble, and has been credited by most historians with its authorship. Morris gave more speeches than any other delegate, with a total of 173, and his analytical powers were leavened by his keen satiric sense.
Morris's influence extended beyond the convention as well. He served as an assistant to the superintendent of finance for the United States during the Revolution and worked alongside General George Washington to reform and finance the American military. He was also Washington's second ambassador to France and served as one of his trusted advisors on matters in Europe and North America. Morris was later elected to the Senate in 1798 and chaired the Erie Canal Commission from 1810 to 1813. He published numerous legal and political works before his death in 1816.
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Frequently asked questions
New York's delegates to the Constitutional Convention were Alexander Hamilton, Robert Yates, and John Lansing Jr..
Alexander Hamilton was a leader of the independence movement in New York. He was also a skilled artillery captain and a lawyer. Robert Yates was a recognised leader of the Antifederalists in the 1780s and had served on the Albany committee of safety. He was also a judge, serving as chief justice of New York's supreme court. John Lansing Jr. was a wealthy lawyer and politician, having served six terms in the New York Assembly.
Hamilton was a dedicated nationalist and orchestrated the groundswell for a Constitutional Convention. Yates and Lansing, on the other hand, were opposed to the creation of a new constitution, believing the convention had exceeded its authority. They left the convention early, feeling that it was exceeding its instructions to amend the Articles of Confederation.
