
Oliver Ellsworth was a Founding Father, Chief Justice of the US Supreme Court, and a key figure in the ratification of the US Constitution. He played a role in the adoption of the First Amendment and other provisions within the Bill of Rights, and helped secure ratification of the controversial Jay Treaty. Ellsworth served on the Committee of Detail, which prepared the first draft of the Constitution, but he left the convention and did not sign the final document. He wrote the Letters of a Landholder to promote its ratification, and played a dominant role in Connecticut's 1788 ratification convention, emphasising that judicial review guaranteed federal sovereignty.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Ellsworth's role in the adoption of the First Amendment | Ellsworth argued that a bill of rights was unnecessary because the Constitution had not granted Congress any powers |
| Ellsworth's role in the Connecticut Compromise | Ellsworth helped secure a compromise between more and less populous states |
| Ellsworth's role in the Committee of Detail | Ellsworth helped prepare the first draft of the Constitution |
| Ellsworth's role in the Letters of a Landholder | Ellsworth wrote a series of articles supporting the proposed Constitution and emphasising that judicial review guaranteed federal sovereignty |
| Ellsworth's role in the Judiciary Act of 1789 | Ellsworth helped shape the federal judiciary of the United States and established the Supreme Court's power to overturn state supreme court decisions |
| Ellsworth's role in the three-fifths compromise about slavery | Ellsworth supported free international trade in slaves to secure Southern support for the Constitution |
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What You'll Learn
- Ellsworth was a key player in the Connecticut Compromise, which led to the House of Representatives
- He served on the Committee of Detail, which prepared the first draft of the Constitution
- Ellsworth supported free international trade in slaves to secure Southern support for the Constitution
- He wrote the Letters of a Landholder to promote ratification of the Constitution
- Ellsworth was the chief author of the Judiciary Act of 1789, which established the Supreme Court's power

Ellsworth was a key player in the Connecticut Compromise, which led to the House of Representatives
Oliver Ellsworth was a key player in the Connecticut Compromise, which led to the House of Representatives. He served on the Committee of Detail, which prepared the first draft of the Constitution, but he left the convention and did not sign the document. His influence helped ensure that Connecticut ratified the Constitution, and he was elected as one of Connecticut's inaugural pair of senators, serving from 1789 to 1796.
The Connecticut Compromise was an agreement between the more populous states and the less populous states. It led to the creation of the House of Representatives, with proportional representation, and a Senate, with fixed representation based on two senators per state. Ellsworth played a dominant role in Connecticut's 1788 ratification convention, emphasising that judicial review guaranteed federal sovereignty. He also wrote the Letters of a Landholder to promote the ratification of the Constitution.
Ellsworth was a strong supporter of the Constitution and played a role in securing its ratification in Connecticut. He was also a supporter of the three-fifths compromise about slavery and free international trade in slaves to secure Southern support for the Constitution. He was the chief author of the Judiciary Act of 1789, which established the Supreme Court's power to overturn state supreme court decisions that were contrary to the United States Constitution.
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He served on the Committee of Detail, which prepared the first draft of the Constitution
Oliver Ellsworth wanted to ratify the Constitution because he believed it would help to secure Southern support for the Constitution. He also defended the Constitution at the Connecticut ratifying convention. He served on the Committee of Detail, which prepared the first draft of the Constitution, but he left the convention before the final document was signed. The committee was made up of five people and was tasked with writing the Constitution's first draft based on resolutions that had already been passed by the Convention. Ellsworth played a dominant role in Connecticut's 1788 ratification convention, emphasising that judicial review guaranteed federal sovereignty.
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Ellsworth supported free international trade in slaves to secure Southern support for the Constitution
Oliver Ellsworth played a key role in the adoption of the US Constitution. He served on the Committee of Detail, which prepared the first draft of the Constitution, and was involved in the Connecticut Compromise, which led to a House of Representatives with proportional representation and a Senate with fixed representation based on two Senators per state.
Ellsworth's influence helped ensure that Connecticut ratified the Constitution, and he was elected as one of Connecticut's inaugural pair of senators, serving from 1789 to 1796. He was also the chief author of the Judiciary Act of 1789, which established the Supreme Court's power to overturn state supreme court decisions that were contrary to the United States Constitution.
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He wrote the Letters of a Landholder to promote ratification of the Constitution
Oliver Ellsworth wanted to ratify the Constitution because he believed it would help to secure Southern support for the document. He also served on the Committee of Detail, which prepared the first draft of the Constitution, and played a role in fashioning the Connecticut Compromise between the more and less populous states. He wrote the Letters of a Landholder to promote ratification of the Constitution, emphasising that judicial review guaranteed federal sovereignty. He also supported the three-fifths compromise about slavery.
Ellsworth's influence helped ensure that Connecticut ratified the Constitution, and he was elected as one of Connecticut's inaugural pair of senators, serving from 1789 to 1796. He was the chief author of the Judiciary Act of 1789, which shaped the federal judiciary of the United States and established the Supreme Court's power to overturn state supreme court decisions that were contrary to the United States Constitution.
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Ellsworth was the chief author of the Judiciary Act of 1789, which established the Supreme Court's power
Oliver Ellsworth was the chief author of the Judiciary Act of 1789, which established the Supreme Court's power to overturn state supreme court decisions that were contrary to the United States Constitution. This Act shaped the federal judiciary of the United States and was a significant development in the country's legal history.
Ellsworth played a crucial role in the adoption and ratification of the United States Constitution. He served on the Committee of Detail, which was responsible for preparing the first draft of the Constitution. Although he did not sign the final document, Ellsworth was an influential advocate for its ratification. He wrote the "Letters of a Landholder", a series of articles similar to the Federalist Papers, to promote the proposed Constitution and secure its ratification in Connecticut.
During the ratification process, Ellsworth emphasised the importance of judicial review in guaranteeing federal sovereignty. He also supported the three-fifths compromise about slavery and free international trade in slaves to secure Southern support for the Constitution. Additionally, Ellsworth played a role in fashioning the Connecticut Compromise, which led to proportional representation in the House of Representatives and fixed representation in the Senate, with two Senators per state.
As one of Connecticut's inaugural pair of senators, serving from 1789 to 1796, Ellsworth continued to shape the country's legal landscape. His contributions extended beyond the Judiciary Act of 1789, as he also played a part in the adoption of the First Amendment and other provisions within the Bill of Rights. Ellsworth's efforts helped establish a strong foundation for the United States' legal system and ensured the protection of individual rights and freedoms.
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Frequently asked questions
Oliver Ellsworth wanted to ratify the Constitution because he believed that a bill of rights was unnecessary. He also supported free international trade in slaves to secure Southern support for the Constitution.
Oliver Ellsworth played a dominant role in Connecticut's 1788 ratification convention, where he emphasised that judicial review guaranteed federal sovereignty. He also wrote Letters of a Landholder, a series of articles like the Federalist Papers that supported the proposed Constitution.
Oliver Ellsworth served on the Committee of Detail, which prepared the first draft of the Constitution. He also played a role in fashioning the Connecticut Compromise between the more populous states and the less populous states.
No, Oliver Ellsworth left the convention before the final document was signed.






















