Madison is frequently described as the “Father of the Constitution.” But is that true? Is his claim better than Hamilton’s?
Let’s check the record:
- PRE-CONVENTION: Both men attended the Annapolis meeting which resulted in the request for the Convention. Both men supported the request; Hamilton provided the written justification for it. ADVANTAGE: Even.
- CONVENTION: Madison’s contribution is easy to overstate; after all, he left Philadelphia disappointed with the final result. No single individual dominated the proceedings, which ended with a series of compromises, some of them fairly grubby. However, Madison’s notes are our only written record, and he was the author of the Virginia Plan, which at least got the discussion moving in the right direction. Hamilton’s contributions to the debates were brief and undistinguished. ADVANTAGE: Madison.
- RATIFICATION: Both men were authors of the Federalist Papers. Hamilton wrote more of the essays; Madison’s are generally more memorable. Both men were instrumental in obtaining the approval of their state for the final document. Madison’s role in defeating Patrick Henry and winning the support of Virginia, however, was probably the turning point in the ratification process. ADVANTAGE: Even.
- IMPLEMENTATION: Madison, as Speaker of the House, pushed through the initial legislation necessary to set up the government. He also provided early drafts of the amendments that went into the Bill of Rights. Hamilton was primarily responsible for creating the financial framework for the new republic; it was his vision of America’s future, not Madison’s or Jefferson’s, that prevailed in the long run. ADVANTAGE: Even.
The bottom line here is that I would give a slight edge to Madison, but it’s closer than more people realize.