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.

General Welfare (Part 8) The States Debates during Ratification (States 1-6)

Following the Convention of 1787, the new Constitution was presented to the Congress Assembled, and than forwarded to each of the States for Ratification pursuant to Article VII of the Constitution. It would take Nine States to Ratify the Constitution for it to take effect and this was anything but a sure thing in 1787. At the same time the Federalist (Part 7) and Anti-Federalist (Part 6) were writing articles on the pros and cons on ratification, while State Legislatures were calling and convening Conventions to review and either adopt or reject the proposed Constitution. The debates in these Conventions would be just as contentious as the debate in the press about ratification and general welfare was no stranger to these discussions either.

Who are the Founding Fathers? James Madison

James Madison of Virginia is not the most popular Founding Father, that title rightfully resides with George Washington. But James Madison can be argued to be the most influential Founder in the creation of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. He served as Delegate, US Representative from Virginia, Secretary of State under Thomas Jefferson, and 4th President of the United States.

The oldest child in a family of twelve, he grew up on his father's plantation, Montpelier, in Orange County, Virginia. In 1762, James Madison went to his first school, located in King and Queen County, Virginia. At the age of 16, he returned to Montpelier to continue his education with a tutor. In August 1769, James began college at the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University), graduating in the spring of 1771.

237 Anniversary of the Boston Tea Party, December 16, 1773

 

DECEMBER 16, 1773
The North American Colonies of the United Kingdom by the mid 1760 consumed over 1 Million Pounds of Tea annually, most of which was produced in another British territory, India. The main supplier of Tea to the colonies was the East India Company. But the East India Company was not allowed to sell its tea directly to the Colonies rather it had to sell its tea in London auction houses, before it was shipped to North America, this drove up prices of the imported product in the Colonies. This increase in the cost resulted in a very prolific smuggling market for tea which could be acquired at much lower costs.

This smuggling took a heavy toll on the East India Company in terms of revenue from Tea. By 1772 the East India company owed the British Government of 1 Million Sterling Pounds from loans, yet it still could not turn a profit over the smuggling market and the inflated costs of their own tea having to go through London Auction first.

Bill of Rights Day: December 15

On this day in 1791 the First Ten Amendments were ratified by the State of Virginia (the 10th State to do so), putting them into effect.

The Bill of rights mean different things to different people, but to all they mean a Free Society. 12 Amendments were proposed by the Congress in 1789, 11 are now Amendments to the Constitution (Amendments 1-10 and 27). Today the Constitution has 27 Amendments, but these 10 are the most known.