Jonah Patel
The Constitutional Convention, which took place in 1787, was a pivotal moment in American history, resulting in the creation of the U.S. Constitution. However, the proceedings of the convention were not formally recorded, with delegates opting for secrecy to encourage a free exchange of ideas. Despite this, several participants, including James Madison, kept detailed notes, providing valuable insights into the convention's discussions and the formation of the Constitution. Madison's notes, published posthumously, are considered the most comprehensive first-person record of the convention. Other notable note-takers include Robert Yates, whose records were published in 1821, and Alexander Hamilton, offering glimpses into the thoughts and debates that shaped the country's future.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Reason for not keeping formal records | The delegates decided it could be an inhibiting factor and wanted a free exchange of ideas |
| People who kept records | James Madison, Robert Yates of New York |
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What You'll Learn
Delegates wanted a free exchange of ideas
The delegates at the Constitutional Convention decided against keeping formal records as they believed it could hinder their discussions. They wanted a free exchange of ideas, which they thought would result in the best plan for the new country. The framers of the Constitution kept the proceedings of the Philadelphia convention a secret because they were concerned that if the public knew about their debates, they might not accept the new constitution. The delegates also wanted to feel free to discuss their ideas without worrying about public perception.
James Madison, a delegate from Virginia, is known for keeping extensive notes on the Constitutional Convention. Madison studied republics and confederacies throughout history, such as ancient Greece and contemporary Switzerland, and drafted a document titled "Vices of the Political System of the United States" before the convention. His notes were published posthumously in a collection of his papers, "The Papers of James Madison". Other delegates viewed Madison as a semi-official recorder of the Convention and provided him with copies of their speeches and motions for inclusion in his notes.
Robert Yates of New York also kept notes on the convention, which were published in 1821 as "Secret Proceedings and Debates of the Convention Assembled at Philadelphia in the Year 1787". Yates left the Convention on July 5, 1787, when he realised that the proposal was for a new constitution rather than an amendment to the existing Articles of Confederation. While not always detailed, his notes provided valuable information about the positions taken by various delegates during the debates.
Other attendees at the Constitutional Convention, such as Rufus King, James McHenry, William Pierce, William Paterson, and Alexander Hamilton, also took notes of varying degrees of detail and length. These notes, along with documents printed by the Convention itself, served as valuable sources for subsequent publications about the Constitutional Convention, such as Farrand's "Records of the Federal Convention of 1787", published in 1921.
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James Madison kept notes
James Madison kept detailed notes of the Constitutional Convention of 1787, which are considered the most complete first-person record of the convention. Madison, a 36-year-old delegate from Virginia, was a strong nationalist and had prepared a proposal known as the Virginia Plan before the convention began. He had studied historical republics and confederacies, such as ancient Greece and contemporary Switzerland, and drafted a document titled "Vices of the Political System of the United States," which offered solutions to the weaknesses of the American political system.
Madison's notes were published posthumously in a collection of his papers, "The Papers of James Madison." He is considered the father of the constitution. Madison's notes were not a verbatim transcription but a record of the proceedings from his perspective. He chose a strategic seat in front of the presiding member to ensure he could observe and record the proceedings effectively.
Madison's notes were not the only record of the Constitutional Convention. Other delegates, such as Robert Yates, Rufus King, James McHenry, William Pierce, William Paterson, and Alexander Hamilton, also kept notes, although none were as thorough as Madison's. Yates's notes on the convention's first two months were published in 1821, and Madison's notes were published after his death 15 years later.
The lack of formal records at the Constitutional Convention was a deliberate decision by the delegates, who felt that a free exchange of ideas without inhibition would produce the best blueprint for the new country. They wanted to keep the proceedings secret to encourage open discussion and ensure the public would accept the new constitution. Madison's notes, therefore, provide a valuable insight into the convention's deliberations and the creation of the United States Constitution.
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Madison's notes were not published until after his death
The delegates at the Constitutional Convention decided against keeping formal records as they believed it could inhibit the free exchange of ideas. They felt that a free exchange of ideas would produce the best blueprint for the new country. As a result, discussions and votes were kept secret until the conclusion of the meeting.
Despite this, James Madison, a 36-year-old delegate from Virginia, kept extensive notes on the proceedings. Other delegates viewed Madison as a semi-official recorder of the Convention and provided him with copies of their speeches and motions for inclusion in his notes. Madison also modified his records based on the notes of other attendees, such as Jackson's journals and Ralph Yates' notes.
The publication of Madison's notes, along with other sources, has provided valuable insights into the Constitutional Convention and the creation of the U.S. Constitution.
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Robert Yates also kept notes
No formal records were kept at the Constitutional Convention because the delegates decided that it could be an inhibiting factor. They wanted a free exchange of ideas, believing it would produce the best blueprint for the new country. Despite this, some delegates kept notes for their own reference. The most well-known of these note-takers was James Madison, who had arrived in Philadelphia eleven days early and was determined to set the convention's agenda. Madison's notes were not published until after his death in 1836, as the delegates had pledged to secrecy.
Yates's notes are particularly notable because they include a record of James Madison's speech on June 26, 1787. In this speech, Madison argued that the Senate ought to represent the interests of landholders and protect the "minority of the opulent" from the majority. This perspective reflected Madison's belief in the importance of a strong national government, which he had outlined in his "Virginia Plan".
In addition to Madison and Yates, other attendees at the Constitutional Convention took notes as well, including Rufus King, James McHenry, William Pierce, William Paterson, and Alexander Hamilton. These notes provide valuable insights into the Convention's proceedings and the thoughts of the delegates.
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Delegates pledged secrecy
The delegates at the Constitutional Convention pledged secrecy as they believed that formal records would be an inhibiting factor. They wanted a free exchange of ideas, which they thought would produce the best blueprint for the new country. They feared that if people knew about their discussions, they would not feel as free to share their ideas, and the public might not accept the new constitution.
Despite the pledge of secrecy, some delegates kept notes for their reference. James Madison's notes are considered the most complete first-person record of the convention. Madison had arrived in Philadelphia eleven days early and was determined to set the convention's agenda. He studied republics and confederacies throughout history, such as ancient Greece and contemporary Switzerland, and drafted a document titled "Vices of the Political System of the United States," which offered solutions to the weaknesses of the American political system. Madison's proposal, known as the Virginia Plan, reflected his views as a strong nationalist and became the starting point for the convention's deliberations.
Other delegates considered Madison a semi-official recorder of the Convention and gave him copies of their speeches and motions for inclusion in his notes. Madison revised his notes after the publication of Jackson's journals and even modified his records of votes based on Jackson's journal and Ralph Yates' notes. Madison's account was not published until after his death in 1836, and his notes were published as part of his papers.
Robert Yates of New York also kept notes of the convention, which were published in 1821. Yates left the Convention on July 5, 1787, when he realized that the proposal was for a new constitution rather than an amendment to the existing Articles of Confederation. His notes provided insights into the positions taken by various delegates during the debates.
Other attendees at the Constitutional Convention, such as Rufus King, James McHenry, William Pierce, William Paterson, and Alexander Hamilton, also took notes of varying degrees of detail and length. These notes, along with documents printed by the Convention itself, were used by Farrand to assemble his Records of the Federal Convention, published in 1921, which is considered the most complete version of the records of the Constitutional Convention.
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Frequently asked questions
The delegates decided that formal records could be an inhibiting factor, preventing a free exchange of ideas. They believed this approach would produce the best blueprint for the new country.
Yes, several delegates kept notes for their own reference. The most well-known note-taker was James Madison, whose detailed records are considered the most complete first-person account of the convention. Other note-takers include Robert Yates, Rufus King, James McHenry, William Pierce, William Paterson, and Alexander Hamilton.
The delegates had pledged secrecy, and Madison's notes were not published until after his death in 1836. Yates' notes were published in 1821, and Madison's notes were published 15 years after his death.
The lack of formal records meant that the exact details of the committee proceedings and discussions were not available for future reference. However, the surviving notes and documents offer valuable insights into the positions and ideas exchanged during the Constitutional Convention.
