A breakdown of the various philosophies that went into the writing of the Constitution as used by the Framers. Includes Federalists Papers as well.

1. Standard 8.2.4Standard 8.2.4
The political philosophy behindThe political philosophy behind
the Constitution as specified in thethe Constitution as specified in the
Federalist papers and the role ofFederalist papers and the role of
the leaders in the writing &the leaders in the writing &
ratification of the Constitutionratification of the Constitution

2. Federalist PapersFederalist Papers
 A series of 85 articles arguing for the ratification of theA series of 85 articles arguing for the ratification of the
US ConstitutionUS Constitution
 Federalist judges use these papers as a primaryFederalist judges use these papers as a primary
source for interpreting the Constitutionsource for interpreting the Constitution
 Provided the first specific mention found in politicalProvided the first specific mention found in political
literature of the idea of checks and balances as a wayliterature of the idea of checks and balances as a way
of restricting governmental powerof restricting governmental power
 Written by James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, JohnWritten by James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, John
JayJay
 The Federalist Papers project began by Hamilton inThe Federalist Papers project began by Hamilton in
response to the many articles and public letters writtenresponse to the many articles and public letters written
by Anti-Federalists when the Constitution was sent toby Anti-Federalists when the Constitution was sent to
the states for ratification in September 1787the states for ratification in September 1787
 The high demand for these essays led to theirThe high demand for these essays led to their
publication in a more permanent form after they firstpublication in a more permanent form after they first
appeared in three New York newspapers: theappeared in three New York newspapers: the
Independent Journal, the New-York Packet and theIndependent Journal, the New-York Packet and the
Daily Advertiser on October 27, 1787Daily Advertiser on October 27, 1787

3. Political PhilosophyPolitical Philosophy
 John Locke, English political thinker, and Baron de Montesquieu,John Locke, English political thinker, and Baron de Montesquieu,
French writer, inspired the framers of the constitution on governingFrench writer, inspired the framers of the constitution on governing
the peoplethe people
 Their theory, the social contract, regarded rights and responsibilitiesTheir theory, the social contract, regarded rights and responsibilities
of the state and it’s citizens. Two key aspects of which was politicalof the state and it’s citizens. Two key aspects of which was political
economy and the rules of truth and evidenceeconomy and the rules of truth and evidence
 Social contract explains the justification and purpose of the state andSocial contract explains the justification and purpose of the state and
of human rights, the concept of human beings having universal rightsof human rights, the concept of human beings having universal rights
regardless of legal jurisdiction or other localizing factors such asregardless of legal jurisdiction or other localizing factors such as
ethnicity and nationalityethnicity and nationality
 John Locke argued for a government with power limited to theJohn Locke argued for a government with power limited to the
protection of personal property, which may have deeply influencedprotection of personal property, which may have deeply influenced
the Constitution.the Constitution.

4. James MadisonJames Madison
 Studied government, read hundreds of books onStudied government, read hundreds of books on
history, politics, and economics in the months beforehistory, politics, and economics in the months before
the Constitutional Convention, making him the bestthe Constitutional Convention, making him the best
prepared of the delegatesprepared of the delegates
 Worked out a plan that included a system of balancesWorked out a plan that included a system of balances
to protect any misuse of power while still havingto protect any misuse of power while still having
leadership in the republic.leadership in the republic.
 Desired to limit the power of the federal governmentDesired to limit the power of the federal government
 Organized the need for a stronger central governmentOrganized the need for a stronger central government
 The delegates at the Constitutional Convention adoptedThe delegates at the Constitutional Convention adopted
many of his ideas in the Virginia Planmany of his ideas in the Virginia Plan
 The Virginia Plan called for a two-house legislature, aThe Virginia Plan called for a two-house legislature, a
chief executive chosen by the legislature, and a courtchief executive chosen by the legislature, and a court
systemsystem
 Successfully offered a package of twelve proposedSuccessfully offered a package of twelve proposed
amendments to the Constitutionamendments to the Constitution

5. Gouverneur MorrisGouverneur Morris
 Pennsylvania delegate to the ConstitutionalPennsylvania delegate to the Constitutional
Convention of 1787Convention of 1787
 Author of large parts of the Constitution,Author of large parts of the Constitution,
 Credited as the author of the Preamble, whichCredited as the author of the Preamble, which
reflected Hamilton’s ideals and his personalreflected Hamilton’s ideals and his personal
political philosophypolitical philosophy
 Responsible for the draft of much of theResponsible for the draft of much of the
ConstitutionConstitution
 The most outspoken nationalist among theThe most outspoken nationalist among the
Founding FathersFounding Fathers
 Used his position as primary draftsman toUsed his position as primary draftsman to
strengthen the final version of the Constitutionstrengthen the final version of the Constitution
 Employed social and verbal skills to help smoothEmployed social and verbal skills to help smooth
over issues that threatened to divide the delegatesover issues that threatened to divide the delegates

6. George WashingtonGeorge Washington
 Presided over the ConstitutionalPresided over the Constitutional
Convention which drafted the U.S.Convention which drafted the U.S.
Constitution in 1787Constitution in 1787
 His presence gave an importantHis presence gave an important
unifying force, prestige, and dignityunifying force, prestige, and dignity
to the proceedingsto the proceedings
 The Convention reached manyThe Convention reached many
compromises and provisions thatcompromises and provisions that
would provide for a strong centralwould provide for a strong central
governmentgovernment

7. James WilsonJames Wilson
 Delegate to the Constitutional Convention ofDelegate to the Constitutional Convention of
1787 in Philadelphia1787 in Philadelphia
 Most lasting impact on the country was as aMost lasting impact on the country was as a
member of the Committee of Detail, whichmember of the Committee of Detail, which
created the first draft of the U.S. Constitution increated the first draft of the U.S. Constitution in
17871787
 Proposed the Three-Fifths Compromise, whichProposed the Three-Fifths Compromise, which
counted a slaved person as three-fifths of onecounted a slaved person as three-fifths of one
free person for taxation and representation,free person for taxation and representation,
ending the dispute between the North and theending the dispute between the North and the
SouthSouth
 Along with Madison, was the best versed of theAlong with Madison, was the best versed of the
framers in the study of political economy, andframers in the study of political economy, and
understood the central problem of dualunderstood the central problem of dual
sovereignty, nation and state.sovereignty, nation and state.
 Fought hard for the ratification of theFought hard for the ratification of the
Constitution, leading Pennsylvania at itsConstitution, leading Pennsylvania at its
ratifying convention to become the secondratifying convention to become the second
state to accept the document.state to accept the document.

8. Roger ShermanRoger Sherman
 He proposed the dual system ofHe proposed the dual system of
congressional representation, which wascongressional representation, which was
adopted.adopted.
 While in Congress, he had drafted aWhile in Congress, he had drafted a
series of amendments which would haveseries of amendments which would have
given that body the power to levygiven that body the power to levy
imposts, to establish a supreme courtimposts, to establish a supreme court
and make laws binding on all the peopleand make laws binding on all the people
 Helped draft the New Jersey Plan, aHelped draft the New Jersey Plan, a
proposal that was favored by smallproposal that was favored by small
states as it gave equal representation tostates as it gave equal representation to
all states with the new governmentall states with the new government
 Prime mover behind the ConnecticutPrime mover behind the Connecticut
Compromise, the basis for the GreatCompromise, the basis for the Great
Compromise which solved the problemCompromise which solved the problem
of representationof representation
 Favored an executive dominated by theFavored an executive dominated by the
legislature and the election of congressmenlegislature and the election of congressmen
and senators in turn by the state legislaturesand senators in turn by the state legislatures

9. Ratifying the ConstitutionRatifying the Constitution
 By the terms of the constitution, nine statesBy the terms of the constitution, nine states
were needed to ratify for its establishment.were needed to ratify for its establishment.
 Two parties were formed once theTwo parties were formed once the
Constitution was sent out for adoption: theConstitution was sent out for adoption: the
Antifederalists, who were against theAntifederalists, who were against the
ratification, and the Federalists, whoratification, and the Federalists, who
supported it.supported it.
 The Federalist Papers, a series ofThe Federalist Papers, a series of
commentaries, were published arguing for itscommentaries, were published arguing for its
ratification as public articles and letters cameratification as public articles and letters came
out disputing against it.out disputing against it.
 Even after New Hampshire, the ninth state toEven after New Hampshire, the ninth state to
ratify, the advocated of the Constitutionratify, the advocated of the Constitution
realized that the new Government could notrealized that the new Government could not
succeed without the addition of New Yorksucceed without the addition of New York
and Virginia, neither of them had ratified.and Virginia, neither of them had ratified.
 After the struggle for both states to acceptAfter the struggle for both states to accept
the new law, eleven states had then ratifiedthe new law, eleven states had then ratified
the Constitution, putting it into operation.the Constitution, putting it into operation.

10. John LockeJohn Locke
 An English philosopher who believed that allAn English philosopher who believed that all
people have a natural right to life, liberty, andpeople have a natural right to life, liberty, and
propertyproperty
 InIn Two Treatises on Civil GovernmentTwo Treatises on Civil Government he wrotehe wrote
that government is based on an agreement, orthat government is based on an agreement, or
contract, between the people and the ruler.contract, between the people and the ruler.
 His arguments concerning liberty and theHis arguments concerning liberty and the
theory social contract influenced the Foundingtheory social contract influenced the Founding
Fathers of the U.S.Fathers of the U.S.
 Locke believe that the original state of natureLocke believe that the original state of nature
was happy and characterized by reason andwas happy and characterized by reason and
tolerancetolerance
 Believed that in that state all people were equalBelieved that in that state all people were equal
and independent and none had a right to harmand independent and none had a right to harm
another’s “life, health, liberty, or possessions.”another’s “life, health, liberty, or possessions.”

11. Baron de MontesquieuBaron de Montesquieu
 French political thinker during the EnlightenmentFrench political thinker during the Enlightenment
who’s theory of separation of powers inspired thewho’s theory of separation of powers inspired the
framers of the U.S. Constitutionframers of the U.S. Constitution
 InIn The Spirit of the LawsThe Spirit of the Laws he stated that powers ofhe stated that powers of
government should be separated and balancedgovernment should be separated and balanced
against each other, which would keep any oneagainst each other, which would keep any one
person or group from having too much powerperson or group from having too much power
 The powers of government should also be clearlyThe powers of government should also be clearly
defined and limited to prevent misuse.defined and limited to prevent misuse.
 It was his philosophy that “government should beIt was his philosophy that “government should be
set up so that no man need be afraid of another”set up so that no man need be afraid of another”
that influenced the drafters of the Constitution tothat influenced the drafters of the Constitution to
divide the federal government into three separatedivide the federal government into three separate
branchesbranches
 Inspired the Checks and Balances systemInspired the Checks and Balances system

12. Annotated ResourcesAnnotated Resources
 Appleby, Joyce, Alan Brinkley, and James McPherson. The AmericanAppleby, Joyce, Alan Brinkley, and James McPherson. The American
Journey Building A Nation. 1st ed. NY, NY: McGraw-Hill, 2000.Journey Building A Nation. 1st ed. NY, NY: McGraw-Hill, 2000.
 I used bits of information from this book in all my slides. This source helped me learn much onI used bits of information from this book in all my slides. This source helped me learn much on
this standard. I used most of it on James Madison and some of the compromises such as Thethis standard. I used most of it on James Madison and some of the compromises such as The
Great Compromise and the Three-Fifths Compromise.Great Compromise and the Three-Fifths Compromise.
 Wales, Jimmy. "Gouverneur Morris."Wales, Jimmy. "Gouverneur Morris." WikipediaWikipedia. 2001. Wikipedia. 17 May. 2001. Wikipedia. 17 May
2006 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gouverneur_Morris>.2006 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gouverneur_Morris>.
 I looked up information on Gouverneur Morris here. It helped me more on the slide of GouverneurI looked up information on Gouverneur Morris here. It helped me more on the slide of Gouverneur
Morris. I used this and many other articles on almost all of the people that I described. It helpedMorris. I used this and many other articles on almost all of the people that I described. It helped
me learn more of each person’s contribution of to the Constitution.me learn more of each person’s contribution of to the Constitution.
 Wright, Robert K.. “GEORGE WASHINGTON."Wright, Robert K.. “GEORGE WASHINGTON." Soldier-Statesmen of theSoldier-Statesmen of the
ConstitutionConstitution. 11 Aug 2000. Center of Military History. 15 May 2006. 11 Aug 2000. Center of Military History. 15 May 2006
<http://www.army.mil/cmh-<http://www.army.mil/cmh- pg/books/RevWar/ss/washington.htm>.pg/books/RevWar/ss/washington.htm>.
 I could not find much information on the impact of George Washington on the Constitution, but II could not find much information on the impact of George Washington on the Constitution, but I
found most of my information on this web page. I also used this website for many of my otherfound most of my information on this web page. I also used this website for many of my other
slides. This helped me learn more about some of the delegates of the Constitutional Convention.slides. This helped me learn more about some of the delegates of the Constitutional Convention.