Steven Brent Hardy

 

Assignment : Founding Fathers

 

Address: http://www.nara.gov/exhall/charters/constitution/confath.html

 

 

1. Let's look at the Founding Fathers. To begin with examine the bio's of several members of the constitutional convention.

Choose one and answer the following questions.

 

a. Name:  James Madison, Jr.

 

 

a. Born: 1751, the eldest of 10 children

 

 

c. College graduate?  yes

 

 

where/when: 1771, from the College of New Jersey (later Princeton)

 

 

d. Profession(at the time of Constitutional Convention.): State and local politics

 

e. Biggest Contribution to Convention. Major participant in several committees, and was the third most outspoken person at the Convention, speaking

 

f. Further service to his country? Member of the House of Representatives from 1789-97, Secretary of State under Jefferson, Fourth President of the United States (during the War of 1812, at that)

 

2. Essay. After examining several of our Founding Fathers what characteristics do they have in common? How did these?

characteristics influence the final version of the U.S. Constitution?

 

            The Founding Fathers were predominantly well educated and/or members of the upper class.  This would be the main cause of their concern that the common, uneducated populace should not be included in the majority of governmental processes.  Their education made them elite, and they saw that only the educated were informed enough to really help the government in any way.  They also were strong patriots, most having served in some way during the Revolution.  Most were members of their home state’s legislatures, and went on to occupy key governmental positions at both the national, state, and local levels.

 

 

 

 

Assignment 2:  The Constitution

 

 

 

 

 

Address: http://www.nara.gov/exhall/charters/constitution/conmain.html

 

1. How many deputies were chosen to attend the Constitutional Convention ?

            Seventy-four delegates were chosen, Fifty-five of which attended

 

a. How were they chosen?

            Appointed by the legislatures of each individual state

 

b. Which State did not send deputies to the Constitutional Convention?

            Rhode Island

 

2. Where and when did the deputies to the Constitutional Convention assemble?

            In Philadelphia, in the State House (now called Independence Hall). The meeting was called for May 14, 1787, but a quorum was not present until May 25.

 

3. How many lawyers were members of the Constitutional Convention?

            Probably 34 out of 55 had at least made a study of law

 

4. From what classes of society were the members of the Constitutional Convention drawn?

            In addition to the lawyers, there were soldiers, planters, educators, ministers, physicians, financiers, and merchants.

 

5. Who was called the Father of the Constitution?

            James Madison

 

6. Who presided over the Constitutional Convention?

            George Washington

 

7. How long did it take to frame the Constitution?

            Fewer than one hundred working days

 

8. Who presented the Virginia Plan?

            Edmund Randolph

 

a.Who presented the New Jersey Plan?

            William Paterson

           

 

 

b.What was the Connecticut Compromise?

            It gave us a Bicameral legislature, with a House of Representatives that was chosen based on size of represented state, and a Senate, where there was equal representation.

 

9. In ratifying the Constitution, did the people vote directly?

            No, the states had specially appointed conventions.

           

a. What was the ratification process?

            Each state appointed a convention to discuss the new Constitution.  After debating it, votes would be cast, a majority vote granting approval to the Constitution.  After nine states had ratified the Constitution, it would immediately go into law, and be the supreme charter of the United States of America

 

b. The vote of how many States was necessary to ratify the Constitution?

            Nine, as per Article VII

 

c. When did the U.S.. government go into operation under the Constitution?

            On March 3, 1789

 

10. ESSAY: Is the spirit of the Constitution of the U.S. different today from what the Framers envisionalized? How/Why?

 

            The Framers of the Constitution planned on creating a republic.  While at first it was indeed so, eventually it was amended and interpreted in such a way that gave all people the opportunity to become involved in governmental proceedings.  However, the form of government, especially the system of checks and balances, has remained intact, though expounded upon greatly.  Even though the interpretation of the Constitution now differs from the way the Framers intended, it remains true to the ideals of liberty that they took great cares to instill in it.