Isabella Carter
The United States Constitution, often regarded as the first written constitution, was drafted by a group of 55 delegates, including lawyers, businessmen, and other highly regarded state representatives, in 1787. The Committee of Detail, including Nathaniel Gorham, Oliver Ellsworth, James Wilson, Edmund Randolph, and John Rutledge, was responsible for transcribing the first draft. However, it was Gouverneur Morris who was tasked with putting pen to paper, streamlining the committee's 23 articles into a concise list of seven. Notable figures like James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and George Washington played pivotal roles in the process, with Madison earning the moniker Father of the Constitution. The Constitution's creation was a significant moment in the early history of the United States, shaping the country's future direction and influence.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year of writing | 1755 |
| Location | Corsica |
| Length | 10.5 pages |
| Author | Pasquale Paoli |
| Inspiration | Montesquieu |
| Type of government | Republic |
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What You'll Learn
The Constitutional Convention
Nationalists, led by James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, George Washington, John Jay, and James Wilson, began working towards strengthening the federal government. They turned a series of regional commercial conferences into a national constitutional convention. The Constitutional Convention was held at the Pennsylvania State House in Philadelphia, and it brought together a group of lawyers, businessmen, and other highly regarded state representatives. The gathering included notable figures such as James Madison of Virginia, Roger Sherman of Connecticut, and Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania.
During the convention, the delegates appointed a Committee of Detail to put their decisions in writing. The committee consisted of Nathaniel Gorham of Massachusetts, Oliver Ellsworth of Connecticut, James Wilson of Pennsylvania, Edmund Randolph of Virginia, and Chairman John Rutledge of South Carolina. They worked off the Virginia Plan and considered other drafts and portions of state constitutions. The committee tackled the challenge of balancing state and federal powers while introducing new provisions.
Near the end of the convention, a Committee of Style and Arrangement condensed the 23 articles into seven and finalised the document. On September 17, 1787, 38 delegates signed the Constitution, with George Reed signing on behalf of the absent John Dickinson of Delaware, bringing the total to 39 signatures. The Constitutional Convention resulted in the creation of a powerful central government and a completely new form of government for the United States.
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The Committee of Detail
The committee's draft included many details that had not been previously debated or included in any other plan, such as powers given to Congress. Most of these were uncontroversial and unchallenged, and much of what the committee included in their first draft made it into the final version of the Constitution without debate. They focused on issues that were unlikely to be contested, and their goal was to create a balanced government of checks and balances to serve the long-term interests of the people of an independent nation. The committee's work was influenced by the writings of European political philosophers such as Montesquieu and John Locke, as well as the Declaration of Independence.
The two surviving preliminary drafts and the text of the Constitution submitted to the convention were written by either Wilson or Randolph. The final draft of the Constitution was penned by Gouverneur Morris of Pennsylvania, who was chosen for his writing talents, ability to work quickly, and willingness to accept the decisions of his colleagues. Morris streamlined the committee's 23 articles into a concise list of seven and wrote the celebrated preamble: "We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union...".
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The Committee of Style and Arrangement
The final report of the Committee of Style and Arrangement, which became the first draft of the Constitution, was the first workable constitutional plan. The Committee's draft was proposed to the convention on September 12, 1787, and the delegates began to consider each section. On September 15, Edmund Randolph proposed that amendments be made by the state conventions and then turned over to another general convention for consideration. On September 17, 1787, 38 delegates signed the Constitution, with one delegate absent, bringing the total number of signatures to 39.
For more than 200 years, questions have been raised as to whether Morris covertly made changes in the text to advance his constitutional vision. However, legal scholars and historians studying the convention have either failed to consider that possibility or concluded that Morris was an honest scrivener.
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![Republics and Democracies: [Speech] As first delivered, at the Constitution Day luncheon of 'We, The People' in Chicago, on September 17, 1961](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/715VfalP2IL._AC_UY218_.jpg)
The Federalist Papers
> [Endeavour] to give a satisfactory answer to all the objections which shall have made their appearance, that may seem to have any claim to your attention.
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The Grand Convention
The delegates appointed a Committee of Detail to transcribe the first draft of the Constitution. The committee consisted of Nathaniel Gorham of Massachusetts, Oliver Ellsworth of Connecticut, James Wilson of Pennsylvania, Edmund Randolph of Virginia, and Chairman John Rutledge of South Carolina. They worked primarily from the Virginia Plan but also considered other documents, such as a separate draft by Charles Pinckney of South Carolina and portions of the Articles of Confederation and various state constitutions.
The Committee of Detail produced a draft with 23 articles, which was then streamlined into a concise list of seven articles by Gouverneur Morris of Pennsylvania. Morris was chosen for his writing skills, efficiency, and willingness to accept the decisions of his colleagues. He also wrote the celebrated preamble to the Constitution: "We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union...".
The final version of the Constitution was condensed by a Committee of Style and Arrangement. On September 17, 1787, 38 delegates signed the Constitution, with George Reed signing on behalf of the absent John Dickinson of Delaware, bringing the total number of signatures to 39. The Constitutional Convention was a significant event in the history of the United States, resulting in the creation of a powerful central government and a framework for the nation.
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Frequently asked questions
The first draft of the Constitution of the United States was written by a group known as the Committee of Detail, consisting of Nathaniel Gorham, Oliver Ellsworth, James Wilson, Edmund Randolph, and Chairman John Rutledge.
A Committee of Style and Arrangement was responsible for putting the Constitution in its final form.
Gouverneur Morris of Pennsylvania was tasked with the job of putting pen to paper. He condensed the 23 articles into a concise list of seven over the course of about four days.
Some of the key figures who contributed to the creation of the Constitution include James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, and Thomas Jefferson.
A few years after the Revolutionary War, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and George Washington feared that their young country was on the brink of collapse due to the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation, which was America's first constitution. The states' disputes over territory, war pensions, taxation, and trade threatened to tear the country apart.
