Page 99 - Beers With Our Founding Fathers

A Patriot’s view of the history and direction of our Country

eleven years earlier. The path the unanimous ratification by the
th
states was not until September 17 1787; just over four years later,
the Bill of Rights amendments. The convention had fifty-five

delegates (‘Framers’) from twelve of the new thirteen states (Rhode
Island opposed the proposed stronger central government and

would not send any delegates). Several of the prominent individuals
– revolutionaries and Founding Fathers – had significant

contributions. George Washington was unanimously elected the
convention president. Many names would be recognized as

delegates, while other names one might expect to be are absent –
either by other calls of official duties or opposition, and some of

these would have their voices heard in the public debate of the
published papers and essays of the Federalist and Anti-Federalist

Papers. One delegate, James Madison, is said to have written the
Constitution. This is somewhat supported by his personal papers,

having believed that the Articles of Confederation – dissolved by the
convention – were weak. He provided several key blueprints to the

form of government provided for in our Constitution. Madison and
the other delegates detailed a plan for the new federal government.

The focal point included three branches: Executive, Legislative and
Judicial. Provided for each were a system of checks and balances

purposed to ensure that each branch had limited authorities and no
single branch would have excessive authorities, particularly over the

other two branches.

The Articles of the Constitution
Article One
Legislative Branch

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