Independence Hall Association
U.s. History: Edmund Randolph
Ushistory.org provides this biography of Edmund Randolph includes highlights of his political career and his role during the Constitutional Convention. Randolph went on to serve as Secretary of State.
University of Groningen
American History: Biographies: James Mc Clurg 1746 1823
This site provides a biography of James McClurg (1746-1823), a noted scientist and doctor in the early days of the United States. He was also a politician. McClurg was part of the Virginia delegation of the Constitutional Convention.
Digital History
Digital History: Philadelphia in 1787
A quick snapshot of what the city of Philadelphia was like in terms of population, wealth, and appearance at the beginning of the Constitutional Convention held there in 1787.
Digital History
Digital History: Completing a Final Draft
Read about the committee that produced a final draft of the Constitution to present to the entire Constitutional Convention. Find out what the delegates to the convention kept in the final draft and what they changed.
US Army Center
U.s. Army Center of Military History: Hugh Williamson, North Carolina
A nice biography of Hugh Williamson, a signer of the Constitution from North Carolina. It discusses his career as doctor, soldier and politician.
University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania Archives & Records: Thomas Fitzsimons
A brief biography of this signer of the Constitution. He later served as a trustee of the University of Pennsylvania.
US Army Center
U.s. Army Center of Military History: Rufus King
A good biographical sketch of Rufus King, one of the signers of the Constitution. He was a delegate from Massachusetts. He served in the Revolutionary war and was later a senator from New York.
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Harcourt: Biographies: James Madison
A brief biography of James Madison. Find out why James Madison was called the father of the constitution. Learn how his life affected the United States. (In Spanish)
Other
Colonial Hall: Biography of Alexander Hamilton
Detailed biographical information on one of our founding fathers, Alexander Hamilton. He was a signer of the Constitution, a General, and a co-author of The Federalist Papers.
Wikimedia
Wikipedia: United States Bill of Rights
This encyclopedia article from Wikipedia gives some background history to the creation of the Bill of Rights and contains a transcription of the first ten amendments to the Constitution in their original form.
Thomson Reuters
Find Law: Founding Fathers: Edmund Randolph
The major focus of this site is Randolph's role in the creation of the Constitution and his views on the structure of the executive branch of government.
Bill of Rights Institute
Bill of Rights Institute: James Madison
James Madison's slight stature and reserved personality gave little indication of his keen intellect and shrewd nature. No other Founder had as much influence in crafting, ratifying, and interpreting the United States Constitution and...
Digital History
Digital History: Compromises
Compromise was the name of the game when writing the Constitution. See how taxation, elections, and the power of the federal government were enshrined in the document. Marvel at the ideas that were rejected.
Center For Civic Education
Center for Civic Education: James Madison and Executive Power
James Madison has been called the "Father of the Constitution". His ideas have shaped the role of our government, the role of political parties, the Bill of Rights and more. This activity offers extensive background, critical thinking...
State Library of North Carolina
N Cpedia: Convention of 1875
The Convention of 1875 resulted from legislation passed on 19 Mar. 1875 providing for the election of convention delegates in August. Since the adoption of the Constitution of 1868, the North Carolina Democratic Party had wanted to...
Library of Congress
Loc: American Memory: George Washington to James Madison, 1787
Read George Washington's observations of the delegates, particularly the Anti-Federalists, at the Constitutional Convention, and the objections the opposition presented, which Washington cites in the letter. View an image of the original...
Constitutional Rights Foundation
Constitutional Rights Foundation: African Americans and the 15th Amendment
Article on equal rights and the series of events leading to the passage of the 15th Amendment. Includes questions for discussion and an activity in which students re-create the Voting Rights Convention.
University of Groningen
American History: Biographies: Pierce Butler 1744 1822
One of the most aristocratic delegates at the convention, Butler was born in 1744 in County Carlow, Ireland. His father was Sir Richard Butler, member of Parliament and a baronet.
Bill of Rights Institute
Bill of Rights Institute: George Mason
George Mason's ideas helped to shape the Founding documents of the United States, but few Americans remember him today. The words he used when writing the Virginia Declaration of Rights and the Virginia Constitution of 1776 inspired the...
University of Groningen
American History: Biographies: Richard Bassett 1745 1815
Bassett (Basset) was born in Cecil County, MD., in April 1745. After his tavern-keeper father deserted his mother, he was reared by a relative, Peter Lawson, from whom he later inherited Bohemia Manor (MD.) estate. He read for the law at...
University of Groningen
American History: Biographies: Gunning Bedford, Jr. 1747 1812
Bedford was born in 1747 at Philadelphia and reared there. The fifth of seven children, he was descended from a distinguished family that originally settled in Jamestown, VA. He usually referred to himself as Gunning Bedford, Jr., to...
University of Groningen
American History: Biographies: John Lansing Jr. 1754 1829
On January 30, 1754, John Lansing was born in Albany, NY, to Gerrit Jacob and Jannetje Lansing. At age 21 Lansing had completed his study of the law and was admitted to practice. In 1781 he married Cornelia Ray. They had 10 children, 5...
University of Groningen
American History: Biographies: William Livingston 1723 1790
Livingston was born in 1723 at Albany, NY. His maternal grandmother reared him until he was 14, and he then spent a year with a missionary among the Mohawk Indians. He attended Yale and graduated in 1741.
University of Groningen
American History: Biographies: Gouverneur Morris 1752 1816
Of French and English descent, Morris was born at Morrisania estate, in Westchester (present Bronx) County, NY, in 1752. His family was wealthy and enjoyed a long record of public service. His elder half-brother, Lewis, signed the...