The Founders and the Constitution: George Washington
Historian Forrest McDonald itemized some of George Washington’s constitutional contributions in American National Biography Online: “His role in working out the details of the Constitution was minimal, but Washington was important to the success of the convention...
The Founders and the Constitution: Alexander Hamilton
It’s easy, if not entirely fair, to explain Alexander Hamilton’s relentless search for fame and power as the outcome of a life begun under very unfavorable conditions. He was born on Jan. 11, 1757, an illegitimate child on the Caribbean island of Nevis, then a...
The Founders and the Constitution: John Rutledge
Let’s get the bad news out of the way first: John Rutledge owned slaves. Moreover, during the Constitutional Convention, he informed his fellow delegates that the three southernmost states would not join the Union if the Constitution immediately abolished the slave...