Isabella Carter
The US Constitution, written in 1787, was the country's first attempt at a federal government framework. The document was penned by Jacob Shallus, assistant clerk of the Pennsylvania Assembly, who carefully engrossed nearly 4,500 words across four sheets of parchment. The Constitution was signed by 38 delegates, with George Read signing on behalf of John Dickinson, who was absent due to illness. This topic explores the process behind the creation of the US Constitution, including the key figures involved and the challenges faced during its drafting and ratification.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Who wrote the U.S. Constitution | Delegates from 12 states |
| Who was the president of the Constitutional Convention | George Washington |
| Who is known as the "Father of the Constitution" | James Madison |
| Who wrote the final language of the Constitution | Gouverneur Morris |
| Who physically wrote out the Constitution | Jacob Shallus, assistant clerk of the Pennsylvania Assembly |
| Number of signatures on the Constitution | 38 |
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What You'll Learn
The Constitution was written in 1787
The United States Constitution was written in 1787, just a few years after the Revolutionary War. The young country had been governed by the Articles of Confederation, which gave the Confederation Congress the power to make rules and request funds from the states, but it lacked the power to enforce these rules, regulate commerce, or print money. Disputes over territory, war pensions, taxation, and trade threatened to tear the country apart.
Fearing the collapse of their nascent nation, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and George Washington convinced Congress to organize a Grand Convention of state delegates to revise the Articles of Confederation. In May of 1787, delegates from 12 states assembled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, for the Constitutional Convention. Notable attendees included Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania, Roger Sherman of Connecticut, and James Madison of Virginia. George Washington served as the president of the convention.
The delegates sought to create a federal system with a national government composed of three separate powers, including both reserved and concurrent powers of the states. The final draft of the Constitution was written by Jacob Shallus, assistant clerk of the Pennsylvania Assembly, who carefully engrossed nearly 4,500 words across four sheets of parchment. On September 17, 1787, 38 delegates signed the Constitution, and it was sent to the states for ratification.
The Constitution became operational in 1789 and has since been amended 27 times. The first ten amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, offer specific protections of individual liberty and justice. The Constitution is the supreme law of the land, and courts established by it can regulate government under it.
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James Madison is known as the Father of the Constitution
James Madison, born on March 16, 1751, in Port Conway, Virginia, is popularly known as the "Father of the Constitution." Madison played a pivotal role in drafting and promoting the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights. He was dissatisfied with the weak national government established by the Articles of Confederation, which was America's first constitution. The Articles of Confederation gave the Confederation Congress the power to make rules and request funds from the states, but it lacked enforcement powers and could not regulate commerce or print money.
Madison, along with Alexander Hamilton and George Washington, feared that the young nation was on the brink of collapse due to states' disputes over territory, war pensions, taxation, and trade. To address these issues, Madison helped organize the Constitutional Convention, which produced a new constitution designed to strengthen the republican government against democratic assembly. He was also instrumental in convincing Congress to assemble a Grand Convention of state delegates to work on revising the Articles of Confederation.
Madison's contributions to the formation of the new government were significant. He created the basic framework for the U.S. Constitution and was one of the authors of the Federalist Papers, writing many of them to help get the Constitution ratified. He also conceived the Virginia Plan, which became the foundation of the Constitution. As a member of the House of Representatives, he sponsored the first ten amendments to the Constitution, known as the Bill of Rights, and became its principal author.
In addition to his work on the Constitution, Madison served as the fourth president of the United States from 1809 to 1817. He is regarded as one of the Founding Fathers of the United States and is recognized for his wide influence on the nation's founding and early development. Madison's legacy is defined by his contributions to the Constitution, and he was hailed as the "Father of the Constitution" even during his lifetime.
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George Washington was the president of the Constitutional Convention
George Washington, the commander-in-chief of the American Revolutionary Army, was the president of the Constitutional Convention and the first president of the United States. In the spring and summer of 1787, Washington provided guidance to 55 state delegates who gathered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to debate the future of the United States. The delegates, a mix of passionate Federalists and Anti-Federalists, unanimously elected Washington as the convention president.
Washington was not interested in politics, but it was clear that no one else could lead the convention. He stayed relatively quiet during the debates, and his opinions were the subject of much speculation. He held the belief that America should have a strong central government and a single executive leader, but he did not allow his bias to sway the other delegates. Washington mainly participated to keep order and provide a deciding vote on various proposals. He worked to forge consensus, demanding complete secrecy as the delegates embarked on the controversial task of not just revising the Articles of Confederation but creating a new form of government.
Washington's letter of 17 September 1787, as president of the Convention to the president of Congress, was of utmost importance. This letter, written by Gouverneur Morris but signed by Washington, was attached to the Constitution whenever it was printed. In the letter, Washington stated, "the Constitution, which we now present, is the result of a spirit of amity and of that mutual deference and concession which the peculiarity of our political situation rendered indispensable."
Washington's correspondence, account books, and military papers offer unparalleled insights into the founding of the United States Constitution and the creation of the national government. They serve as invaluable sources for understanding the military aspects of the American Revolution and Washington's role in shaping the country's future.
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Gouverneur Morris wrote the final language
Gouverneur Morris, an American statesman, Founding Father of the United States, and signatory to the Articles of Confederation and the United States Constitution, wrote the final language of the US Constitution. Morris, a member of one of New York's prominent Tory families, abandoned his British allegiances and devoted himself to the American revolutionary cause. He was also one of the most outspoken opponents of slavery among those present at the Constitutional Congress.
Morris was elected to serve on the Committee of Style and Arrangement, which drafted the final language of the proposed constitution. Most historians credit him with the authorship of the final version of the preamble, including changing the opening line from "We, the People of the States" to "We, the People of the United States." This shift reflected his idea of being a citizen of a single union of states, rather than individual states. Morris's influence extended beyond the preamble, as he gave the most speeches (173) of any delegate at the Convention, passionately advocating for his beliefs and shaping the language and structure of the Constitution.
Morris's contributions to the Constitution were recognized by his contemporaries, including James Madison, who acknowledged Morris's "exhaustive" debating abilities and his crucial role in finalizing the style and arrangement of the document. Morris signed the final draft of the Constitution on behalf of Pennsylvania on September 17, 1787.
In addition to his work on the Constitution, Morris also served as a diplomat. He was appointed Minister to France by President George Washington and proved to be a valuable diplomatic envoy during the French Revolution. Morris's final public act was his support for the Hartford Convention during the War of 1812, demonstrating his continued engagement in political affairs.
Morris's legacy is complex, as critics accused him of favoring a highly centralized, aristocratic government. However, he is remembered as the "Penman of the Constitution", a title that recognizes his significant role in crafting the language and structure of this foundational document of American government.
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38 delegates signed the Constitution
The US Constitution was written in the summer of 1787 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by delegates from 12 states. The Constitutional Convention was assembled in May 1787, and the delegates shuttered the windows of the State House and swore secrecy so they could speak freely. The president of the convention was George Washington, though James Madison is known as the "Father of the Constitution" due to his significant contributions to the formation of the new government. Gouverneur Morris wrote the Constitution's final language.
The Constitution was created to replace the Articles of Confederation with a new form of government. The Articles of Confederation, America's first constitution, 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 states' disputes over territory, war pensions, taxation, and trade threatened to tear the young country apart.
The Constitutional Convention of 1787 was convened to revise the Articles of Confederation. The delegates debated competing proposals, such as the ""New Jersey Plan," which retained the essential features of the Articles. The committee's report, known as the Great Compromise, resolved many contentious points and prescribed a bicameral legislature with proportional representation in the House and equal state representation in the Senate. After intense debates and revisions, the delegates produced the document known as the Constitution, which expanded the power of the central government while protecting the prerogatives of the states.
A total of 38 delegates signed the Constitution, out of 55 who attended the sessions. The delegates ranged in age from Jonathan Dayton, aged 26, to Benjamin Franklin, aged 81, who was so infirm that he had to be carried to sessions in a sedan chair. Not all of the delegates agreed with the final product, and some expressed reservations. Three delegates, Elbridge Gerry of Massachusetts, George Mason of Virginia, and Randolph, did not sign it at all. The Anti-Federalists opposed the Constitution because it created a powerful central government and lacked a bill of rights. Despite this opposition, the Constitution was ratified by 9 of the 13 states, enacting the new government.
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Frequently asked questions
George Read was the first person to sign the US Constitution. He signed on behalf of John Dickinson, who was unable to attend the signing ceremony due to illness.
The US Constitution was written by delegates from 12 states in the summer of 1787 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. James Madison is known as the "Father of the Constitution" due to his extensive contributions to its formation. Gouverneur Morris wrote the final language of the Constitution.
38 delegates signed the US Constitution on September 17, 1787.
The US Constitution was created to replace the Articles of Confederation, which was America's first constitution. The Articles of Confederation gave the Confederation Congress the power to make rules and request funds from the states, but it lacked enforcement powers and could not regulate commerce or print money. The US Constitution aimed to address these issues and establish a stronger federal government.
