Constitution of Pennsylvania, September 18, 1776

(Downloadable)

Constitution of Virginia, June 29, 1776

(Downloadable)

Who are the Founding Fathers? James Wilson (Pennsylvania)

James Wilson is one of only six people who hold claim to signing both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. He served as a member of Continental Congress, Delegate to the Congress Assembled, Delegate to the Convention of 1787, and an Associate Justice of the United States. During the Convention of 1787 was one of the more vocal Delegates, never shy to offer his opinion.

Born in Carskerdo, Scotland  on Septemeber 14, 1742.  James Wilson attended Universities of St. Andrews, Glasgow, and Edinburgh initially studying to become a Presbyterian minister, but never earned a degree. He emigrated to Continental North America in 1766, and very shortly afterward enrolled into the College of Philadelphia. and, studied Law with John Dickinson. In 1767 he was admitted into to the Pennsylvania Bar, and set up his own successful practice in Reading Pennsylvania.

General Welfare (Part 9) State Ratification Debates (States 7-14)

States 7-14 you say, well you know there were only 13 Original States, right! As a matter of fact, you would be correct, but a 14th State also took part in the debates, though very small. Vermont became the 14th State on March 4, 1791, less than a year after Rhode Island ratified the Constitution and before the Bill of Rights was ratified later in 1791.
We see the same trend continue with many of the last Seven States as we saw with the first Six States, in regards to the amount of power being given to Congress, and because of this States proposing Amendments to the Constitution, some which are designed to specifically counter this perceived threat.

Who are the Founding Fathers? Charles Pinckney (South Carolina)

Just as James Madison is considered the Father of the Constitution by most, many regard Charles Pinckney as perhaps the Step-Father of the Constitution. From South Carolina he came from a family of political figures. His political career started during the American Revolution which he was taken prisoner in. He served in the South Carolina House. the Governor of South Carolina, member of the Congress Assembled, as a Delegate to the Constitution Convention of 1787, US Representative and Senator from South Carolina, and was a main force in both the Federalist Party and organizing the new Democratic-Republican Party.

Charles Pinckney was born on the 26th of October 1757 at Charleston, South Carolina; he was the son of Charles Pinckney (1731-1784), first president of the first South Carolina Provincial Congress (January to June 1775), and a cousin of Charles Cotesworth Pinckney and Thomas Pinckney.