Eleanor Finch
The United States Constitution, the oldest and longest-standing written and codified national constitution in force, was written and signed by 39 of 55 delegates in 1787, and ratified in 1788. The delegates were chosen by the state legislatures of 12 of the 13 original states; Rhode Island refused to send delegates. The main authors of the Constitution were James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay, with Madison often being referred to as the Father of the Constitution. Benjamin Franklin, aged 81, was the oldest delegate and had to be carried to sessions in a sedan chair.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of authors | 55 |
| Primary authors | James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, John Jay |
| Other key authors | Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, Roger Sherman, Gouverneur Morris, James Wilson |
| Location | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| Year | 1787 |
| Number of signatories | 38 |
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What You'll Learn
James Madison, Alexander Hamilton and John Jay: the 'Triumvirate'
James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay are often regarded as the key figures in drafting the U.S. Constitution. They were part of a group of 55 delegates who wrote and signed the Constitution in 1787, and it was ratified in 1788. The Constitution superseded the Articles of Confederation, the nation's first constitution, on March 4, 1789.
Madison is often called the "Father of the Constitution" due to his extensive contributions to the drafting process. He was the primary author of the Virginia Plan, which formed the basis of much of the Constitution. Madison also played a significant role in the debates over the Constitution and wrote many of the Federalist Papers, a series of essays defending the Constitution.
Hamilton was a strong advocate for a powerful central government and played a pivotal role in shaping the Constitution's executive branch. He was instrumental in convincing Congress to organise a Grand Convention of state delegates to revise the Articles of Confederation. Hamilton also wrote many of the Federalist Papers and is considered one of the most important thinkers in American history.
John Jay, a lawyer and diplomat from New York, was the third member of the "Triumvirate" that led the drafting of the Constitution. He served as the first Chief Justice of the United States and strongly favoured a federal system of government. Jay made significant contributions to drafting Article III, which establishes the judicial branch.
The Constitutional Convention, which drafted the Constitution, assembled in Philadelphia in May 1787. The delegates desired to revise the Articles of Confederation but ultimately decided to create a new framework of government. The Constitution was signed by 39 delegates on September 17, 1787, and it has been amended 27 times, most recently in 1992.
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The Virginia Plan: Madison's basis for the Constitution
The US Constitution was written by 55 delegates to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, during the summer of 1787. These delegates were elected by the states and were a diverse group, representing various backgrounds, ideologies, and experiences. While many of these delegates contributed significantly to the drafting of the Constitution, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay were the primary authors.
James Madison is often credited with being the primary author of the Virginia Plan, which served as the basis for much of the Constitution. Madison also played a key role in the debates over the Constitution and wrote many of the Federalist Papers, a series of essays defending the Constitution and explaining its principles to build public support.
The Virginia Plan, also known as the Randolph Plan after its presenter Edmund Randolph, was proposed by Madison at the Constitutional Convention on May 29, 1787. The Plan aimed to address the shortcomings of the Articles of Confederation, which was America's first constitution. The Articles gave the Confederation Congress the power to make rules and request funds from the states, but it lacked enforcement powers, could not regulate commerce, and could not print money.
Madison's Virginia Plan proposed a new form of government, a national government with three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial. The legislative branch would consist of a bicameral legislature, with representation based on state population. The executive branch would be led by a single person, and the judicial branch would include a Supreme Court. The Plan also included a proposal for the amendment process, suggesting that future amendments to the Constitution would be possible with the approval of a majority of the states.
In conclusion, James Madison's Virginia Plan formed the basis for the US Constitution, and his contributions as a key author and debater, along with his essays, played a significant role in shaping the final document.
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The Federalist Papers: Madison and Hamilton's defence
The US Constitution is the supreme law of the land, delineating the framework of the federal government. It superseded the Articles of Confederation, the nation's first constitution, in 1789. The drafting of the Constitution was completed at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in 1787. The Constitution was written and signed by 38 delegates, with George Reed signing on behalf of John Dickinson, bringing the total number of signatures to 39.
Among the delegates were key figures such as John Dickinson, Alexander Hamilton, and James Madison, who also played a significant role in defending the Constitution through their writings in The Federalist Papers. The Federalist Papers, also known as The Federalist, is a collection of 85 articles and essays written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay under the pseudonym "Publius." These papers were published in various New York state newspapers between October 1787 and May 1788 to promote the ratification of the Constitution and explain its provisions in detail.
Hamilton, Madison, and Jay, having attended the Constitutional Convention, had unique insights into the intentions behind the drafting of the Constitution. They recognised the need for a stronger central government and sought to address concerns over centralised power. In their essays, they defended the Constitution against criticisms and provided explanations to counter objections.
The Federalist Papers played a significant role in influencing public opinion and shaping American political institutions. The rapid publication of three to four essays in a single week, authored by Publius, overwhelmed potential opposition and contributed to the widespread influence of the papers. The authors' identities were initially hidden, but astute observers correctly identified Hamilton, Madison, and Jay as the writers.
The Federalist Papers continue to be an important resource for interpreting the intentions of the Constitution's drafters. The essays provide valuable context for understanding the reasoning behind specific provisions and the compromises made during the Constitutional Convention. The collection of papers has been reprinted and published in various editions, with some including revisions and corrections by Hamilton and Madison themselves.
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The Grand Convention: Hamilton's push for a central government
The US Constitution was written by 55 delegates to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, during the summer of 1787. These delegates were elected by the states to revise the Articles of Confederation, which was the country's first constitution. However, the delegates soon realized that the Articles were fundamentally flawed and decided to create an entirely new document.
Among the 55 delegates, there were several key figures who played pivotal roles in shaping the Constitution. George Washington, who presided over the Constitutional Convention, was one of them. His leadership helped ensure that the delegates were able to reach an agreement on key issues, and his presence added legitimacy to the process. James Madison, often referred to as the "Father of the Constitution," was another key figure. He was the primary author of the Virginia Plan, which served as the basis for much of the Constitution, and he also wrote many of the Federalist Papers, a series of essays defending the Constitution.
Alexander Hamilton was also a key figure in the drafting of the Constitution. Hamilton, along with Madison and John Jay, wrote the Federalist Papers, which explained the significance of the Constitution and aimed to persuade states to ratify it. Hamilton was a strong advocate for a central government and believed that a strong federal government was necessary to face the nation's challenges. He, along with Madison and George Washington, feared that their young country was on the brink of collapse due to the ineffectiveness of the Articles of Confederation.
Other important figures who played a role in the creation of the Constitution include Roger Sherman, who helped bridge the gap between smaller and larger states, and James Wilson, who shaped the final provisions related to the judiciary. Benjamin Franklin, Gouverneur Morris, and George Mason, who advocated for a Bill of Rights, were also among the key contributors to the Constitution.
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The Connecticut Compromise: proportional representation
The Connecticut Compromise, also known as the Great Compromise of 1787, was an agreement reached during the Constitutional Convention of 1787 that defined the legislative structure and representation each state would have under the United States Constitution. The convention consisted of 55 delegates from 12 of the 13 states (Rhode Island abstained).
The Compromise retained the bicameral legislature as proposed by Roger Sherman, along with proportional representation of the states in the lower house or House of Representatives. It required the upper house or Senate to be weighted equally among the states, with each state having two members in the Senate. This was in response to the concerns of less populous states like Delaware, which feared that their voices and interests would be drowned out by larger states.
On May 29, 1787, Edmund Randolph of the Virginia delegation proposed the creation of a bicameral legislature, where membership in both houses would be allocated to each state proportionally to its population. This proposal, known as the Virginia or Randolph Plan, was supported by delegates from larger states, who argued that their greater contribution to the nation's financial and defensive resources entitled them to greater representation in both houses.
However, delegates from smaller states vehemently disagreed, demanding equal representation in both houses. On June 15, 1787, William Paterson of the New Jersey delegation proposed the New Jersey Plan, which suggested a unicameral legislature with each state having a single vote. This plan aimed to amend the Articles of Confederation to increase Congress's powers while keeping them in place. The convention voted down this proposal and affirmed its commitment to a bicameral legislature.
The Connecticut Compromise, proposed by Roger Sherman and supported by Oliver Ellsworth, both delegates from Connecticut, resolved the dispute. It adopted proportional representation in the House of Representatives, with each state assigned a number of seats proportional to its population, including three-fifths of its enslaved population. In the Senate, all states were given equal representation, with each state having two members. This compromise ensured that smaller states had a voice in the Senate while recognising the greater population and resource contributions of larger states in the House of Representatives.
The primary authors of the Constitution were James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay, who collectively wrote a series of essays known as The Federalist Papers to build public support for the Constitution. Other key figures who played a role in the creation of the Constitution include Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, Roger Sherman, Gouverneur Morris, and James Wilson.
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Frequently asked questions
The US Constitution was written and signed by 39 of the 55 delegates to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1787.
The main authors of the Constitution were James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay. These three men were all delegates to the convention and played a leading role in drafting the document.
James Madison is often called the "Father of the Constitution" due to his extensive contributions to the drafting process. He was the primary author of the Virginia Plan, which formed the basis for much of the Constitution. Alexander Hamilton was a strong advocate for a powerful central government and played a significant role in shaping the Constitution's executive branch. John Jay, a lawyer and diplomat, was a key advocate for a federal system of government and was instrumental in drafting Article III, which establishes the judicial branch.
