Eleanor Finch
The Framers of the Constitution, also known as the Founding Fathers, were a group of 18th-century American political leaders who played a pivotal role in shaping the future of the nation. The Founding Fathers include those who wrote and signed the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, and the Constitution of the United States. The single person most identified as the Father of the United States is George Washington, the nation's first president. Other key Founding Fathers include John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, James Madison, and Gouverneur Morris. These individuals were not only brilliant and virtuous, but they also understood the importance of establishing foundational principles that would guide the new nation into an uncertain future.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of framers | 70 individuals were appointed, 55 attended, and 39 signed the Constitution |
| Age range | 26 to 81 |
| Political experience | Varied, some had little national political experience, while others had extensive experience |
| Occupations | Wide range of high and middle-status occupations, including businessman, author, former state attorney, military commander, diplomat, etc. |
| Educational backgrounds | Varied, some were self-taught or learned through apprenticeship, while others had private tutors or attended academies or colleges |
| Vision | Designed the Constitution to endure, addressing both contemporary challenges and establishing foundational principles for the future |
| Interpretation | Recognized that the broad principles of the Constitution would need to be defined and adapted over time by future generations |
| Originalism critique | Originalism erroneously attributes narrow-mindedness and shortsightedness to the framers, ignoring their common-law tradition that valued gaining greater insight over time |
| Federalist Papers | Supported the Constitution's ratification, written by Madison, Hamilton, and John Jay |
| Key delegates | James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, Gouverneur Morris, and others |
| Goals | Strengthen central government, balance state and federal powers, address representation and individual rights, limit political influence of citizens |
| Judiciary | Established a nationwide system of courts to protect federal interests and safeguard political independence of federal judges |
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What You'll Learn
- The Founding Fathers: a group of late-18th-century American revolutionary leaders who united the Thirteen Colonies
- The Philadelphia Convention: 55 delegates attended, but only 39 signed the Constitution
- The Federalist Papers: written by Madison, Hamilton, and John Jay, advocating for the Constitution's ratification
- Gouverneur Morris: wrote the preamble and much of the Constitution's text, making him a key author
- Principles and interpretation: the Framers' broad principles were to be adapted to future crises of human affairs
The Founding Fathers: a group of late-18th-century American revolutionary leaders who united the Thirteen Colonies
The Founding Fathers of the United States were a group of late-18th-century American revolutionary leaders who played a pivotal role in shaping the country's future. They united the Thirteen Colonies, oversaw the War of Independence from Great Britain, and established the United States of America. The Founding Fathers include those who wrote and signed the United States Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, and the Constitution of the United States.
The Founding Fathers were political leaders who participated in the American Revolution, signing the Declaration of Independence, taking part in the Revolutionary War, and establishing the Constitution. They were delegates to the Constitutional Convention, which was held in Philadelphia, and helped draft the Constitution of the United States. The Founding Fathers were visionaries who designed the Constitution to endure and address the specific challenges facing the nation during their lifetimes. They established foundational principles that would guide the new nation into an uncertain future, defining fundamental freedoms and governmental powers in general terms.
The Founding Fathers included John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, James Madison, and George Washington. These individuals held important roles in the early government of the United States, with Washington, Adams, Jefferson, and Madison serving as the first four presidents. Adams and Jefferson were the nation's first two vice presidents, Jay was the first chief justice, Hamilton was the first secretary of the treasury, Jefferson was the first secretary of state, and Franklin was America's senior diplomat during the Revolutionary War.
The Founding Fathers had diverse educational backgrounds, with some, like Franklin and Washington, being largely self-taught or learning through apprenticeship, while others were tutored privately or attended academies. About half of them had attended or graduated from college. They also had extensive political experience, with nearly all of the fifty-five delegates to the Constitutional Convention having experience in colonial and state government.
The Founding Fathers' work in drafting the Constitution was influenced by their beliefs and values. They sought to limit the influence of populism on governance and shield the judiciary from populist pressures. They also recognised that their work would need to be adapted and interpreted over time to suit the changing needs of society.
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The Philadelphia Convention: 55 delegates attended, but only 39 signed the Constitution
The Philadelphia Convention, also known as the Constitutional Convention, took place in Philadelphia from May 25 to September 17, 1787. The convention was convened to address the flaws in the Articles of Confederation, which had established a weak national government. The delegates sought to create a stronger central government and address issues such as representation and individual rights.
The original states, except Rhode Island, collectively appointed 70 individuals to the convention. However, a number of these individuals did not accept or were unable to attend, resulting in a total of 55 delegates who participated in the sessions. The delegates included a range of prominent figures, such as George Washington, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, Benjamin Franklin, and Gouverneur Morris.
The convention was a significant event in American history, as it led to the creation of the United States Constitution. The delegates debated and resolved various issues, including the difficult topic of slavery, which was widespread in the states at the time. The final version of the Constitution was voted on by the delegates and signed by 39 of the 55 delegates on September 17, 1787.
The delegates who signed the Constitution are considered the Framers of the Constitution. The Framers were visionaries who designed the Constitution to endure and established foundational principles to guide the nation into the future. They understood that their work would need to be interpreted and adapted over time to suit an ever-changing society. The principles enshrined in the Constitution, such as freedom of speech, due process of law, and equal protection of the laws, remain fundamental to American governance today.
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The Federalist Papers: written by Madison, Hamilton, and John Jay, advocating for the Constitution's ratification
The US Constitution was drafted during the Philadelphia Convention, replacing the weak national government created by the Articles of Confederation. The Framers of the Constitution were visionaries who sought to address the challenges facing the nation during their lifetimes and establish foundational principles that would guide the new nation into an uncertain future.
The Federalist Papers, written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay under the collective pseudonym "Publius," played a crucial role in advocating for the ratification of the Constitution. The collection, originally known as "The Federalist," consisted of 85 articles and essays published between October 1787 and May 1788. The first 77 essays appeared in the Independent Journal, the New York Packet, and The Daily Advertiser, while the last eight were republished in New York newspapers.
Hamilton, Madison, and Jay wrote The Federalist Papers to promote the ratification of the Constitution, specifically targeting citizens of New York, where there was significant opposition from Anti-Federalists. Hamilton, a leading advocate for national constitutional reform, articulated the failures of the existing federal government and the need for a stronger federal government to address potential threats from both external and internal sources. Madison claimed authorship of 29 essays, while Hamilton and Jay contributed 51 and 5, respectively, according to some sources. However, the exact authorship of some essays remains disputed, with evidence suggesting collaborative efforts.
The Federalist Papers are significant not only for their role in advocating for the Constitution's ratification but also for their interpretation of the intentions of the Framers. They address the dangers of factionalism and disunity among the states, emphasizing the benefits of a united political entity for the nation's security and prosperity. The papers continue to provide valuable insights into the principles and ideas that shaped the Constitution and the foundational document that still governs the United States today.
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Gouverneur Morris: wrote the preamble and much of the Constitution's text, making him a key author
Gouverneur Morris, born on 31 January 1752, was an American statesman, a Founding Father of the United States, and a signatory to the Articles of Confederation and the US Constitution. He is credited with writing the famous preamble of the Constitution, "We the People...", which has earned him the title of "Penman of the Constitution". Morris is also believed to have drafted much of the actual text of the Constitution, making him one of its key authors.
Morris was a member of one of New York's prominent Tory families and was a signatory of the Articles of Confederation. He abandoned his British allegiances and devoted himself to the American revolutionary cause, assisting General George Washington in reforming and financing the American military. Morris and Washington shared a vision of a strong central government, and they worked together at the Constitutional Convention in 1787. Morris was also one of the most outspoken opponents of slavery at the Convention, arguing against the hypocrisy of southern defences of counting slaves for representation.
Morris was a member of the Committee of Style and Arrangement, which was responsible for drafting the final language of the proposed constitution. He played a significant role in shaping the document, particularly in editing its final text and details. James Madison, in an 1831 letter, acknowledged Morris's contribution, stating that "the finish given to the style and arrangement of the Constitution fairly belongs to the pen of Mr. Morris". Madison also praised Morris's debating abilities at the Convention, describing them as "exhaustive".
In addition to his work on the Constitution, Morris served as Washington's second ambassador to France during the French Revolution. He later returned to the United States and was elected to the Senate in 1800, where he represented New York until 1803. Morris also served as chairman of the Erie Canal Commission and was one of the commissioners who created the Commissioners' Plan of 1811 to establish New York's street grid.
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Principles and interpretation: the Framers' broad principles were to be adapted to future crises of human affairs
The Framers of the Constitution were visionaries who designed the document to endure and to establish foundational principles that would sustain and guide the new nation into an uncertain future. They understood that they were entrusting future generations with the responsibility to interpret and apply their broad principles to new crises of human affairs.
Chief Justice John Marshall observed that the Constitution was "intended to endure for ages to come, and consequently to be adapted to the various crises of human affairs". This reflects an understanding that the Constitution sets forth broad principles that must be defined and given substance in an ever-changing society. The principles themselves do not change, but their interpretation and application must be adaptable.
The Framers' Constitution recognises that in a self-governing society, courts must generally defer to the preferences of the majority. While the courts may review governmental action to guard against arbitrary or unreasonable decisions, the starting point must be a presumption of judicial modesty. This is an essential tenet of principled constitutionalism.
The Framers believed in the courage of their convictions and were not timid men. They were steeped in a common-law tradition that presumed that just as reason, observation, and experience would allow us to gain greater insight over time into questions of biology, physics, economics, and human nature, so too would we be able to learn more about the content and meaning of the principles enshrined in the Constitution.
The Framers sought to address the specific challenges facing the nation during their lifetimes, but they also sought to establish broad principles that would guide the nation into the future. The text of the Constitution reflects this vision, defining fundamental freedoms and governmental powers in general terms.
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Frequently asked questions
The Founding Fathers of the US Constitution were a group of late-18th-century American political leaders who participated in the American Revolution. They include John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, James Madison, and George Washington.
The framers of the Constitution sought to address specific challenges facing the nation at the time, while also establishing foundational principles to guide the new nation into the future. They defined fundamental freedoms such as freedom of speech, due process of law, freedom of religion, and equal protection under the law. They also set forth governmental powers, such as Congress's ability to regulate commerce and the president's role in executing laws.
The framers had diverse roles and backgrounds. Some, like Franklin and Washington, were self-taught or learned through apprenticeships, while others had private tutors or attended academies. Many held important positions in the early US government. Washington, Adams, Jefferson, and Madison served as the first four presidents. Adams and Jefferson were the first two vice presidents. Jay was the first chief justice, Hamilton was the first secretary of the treasury, and Jefferson was the first secretary of state.
The framers faced the challenge of balancing state and federal powers while addressing issues like representation and individual rights. They also grappled with the question of how to limit the influence of populism on the judiciary and the political process. Additionally, they had to replace the flawed Articles of Confederation, which had created a weak national government.
The framers were described by Klarman as "brilliant and virtuous men." They had strong educational backgrounds and extensive political experience. They understood that the principles they enshrined in the Constitution would need to be interpreted and adapted over time.
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