Section #1 - The Congressmen Who Built Then Broke The Union
Chapter 14: Congressional Profile: 1775-1788
Here is an abbreviated profile of the contributions made to the Constitution by key delegates to the 1787 Convention. Note also that the 44 year old author of the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson, is serving as Ambassador to France at that time.
Some of the Founding Fathers at Philadelphia in 1787
| Name | Age | State | Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| John Dickinson | 54 | Delaware | His “two solar systems” speech clarifies roles of the national government vis a vis the states |
| Oliver Ellsworth | 42 | Connecticut | Input to Connecticut Plan, member of Committee on Detail, later a Supreme Court Justice |
| Ben Franklin | 81 | Pennsylvania | Adds worldly perspective based on years as diplomat in Europe |
| Elbridge Gerry | 43 | Massachusetts | Challenges South on “counting slaves,” leads Anti-Federalist drive for state legislatures to ratify, refuses to sign |
| Alexander Hamilton | 30 | New York | Favors British style government with strong executive branch, leading thinker on finance and the economy, Committee of Five |
| William Johnson | 59 | Connecticut | Chairs Committee of Five on Style & Arrangement, input to Conn. Plan, calming influence start to finish |
| Rufus King | 32 | Massachusetts | Serves on Committee of Style & Arrangement |
| James Madison | 36 | Virginia | Secretary of the convention, author on Committee of Five, opposes need for bill of rights at the time |
| Luther Martin | 39 | Maryland | Opposes slave trade, voice for Anti-Federalist faction |
| George Mason | 62 | Virginia | Anti-Federalist who still pushes for supremacy of the people, demands Bill of Rights and second convention, refuses to sign |
| Gouvernor Morris | 35 | Pennsylvania | Aristocratic by birth, a witty debater, makes most motions at convention. Lead author of final Constitution, proposes strong one man President, openly attacks slavery |
| William Patterson | 41 | New Jersey | Authors New Jersey Plan opening several key issues, later a Supreme Court Justice |
| Charles Pinckney | 29 | South Carolina | Only delegate to openly defend the practice of slavery |
| Charles C. Pinckney | 41 | South Carolina | A lead spokesman for the Southern states, later runs for President as a Federalist. |
| Edmund Randolph | 34 | Virginia | Authors key Virginia Plan and Committee on Detail report, calls for a flexible Constitution changing with the times, also amendments, critical role throughout, refuses to sign |
| John Rutledge | 48 | South Carolina | The “Dictator,” famed General during the war and planter. Another key spokesperson for South, Chairman of Committee on Detail, defends need for slavery, supports strong Executive, later a Supreme Court Justice |
| Roger Sherman | 66 | Connecticut | Once a shoemaker, he authors the Enumeration Clause (3/5th slave count) in support of the Great Compromise, input to Connecticut Plan, strong role in ratification |
| George Washington | 55 | Virginia | Towers above the proceedings and clear choice as first executive of the new nation |
| James Wilson | 45 | Pennsylvania | Leads Connecticut Plan with two senators per state enabling the Great Compromise, Committee on Detail, voice for closure, supports equality of new western states, later a Supreme Court Justice |
