There were many intelligent and politically suave men who were members of the Constitutional Convention. Why was General George Washington chosen as the first President of the United States? Today we listen to the speeches by each candidate on their views of issues facing our nation. We make our decisions based upon the candidates background and their position on the issues. The people's voice is heard in the public voting process. As stated in Article II Section I, http://www.usconstitution.net/const.html#A2Sec1, of the Constitution. The voice of the people is relayed to the national election through the electoral college. Each state's number of votes in the electoral college depends upon the state's population. Today you are going to read the resumes of some of the members of the Constitutional Convention. You will not know the names of the people you are reading about. You are to read the following resumes, and you are choose who you think is the most qualified for the job of the first President of the United States of America.
Candidate
#1
Age: 37
Occupation: Politician
Education: Early life: Private Tutors, Graduated from College of New Jersey (Princeton) with a degree in Theology
Birthplace: Port Conway, VA
Military Service: None (poor health)
Family: Married. One stepson from previous marriage of wife.
Accomplishments: House of Delegates, Council of State, Founder of Democratic-Republican Party, Framer of the Virginia Constitution, Constitutional Convention
Quote: "Liberty is to faction what air is to fire, an ailment without which it instantly expires. But it could not be less folly to abolish liberty, which is essential to political life, because it nourishes faction that it would be to wish the annihilation of air, which is essential to animal life, because it imparts to fire its destructive agency."
Candidate #2
Age: 33
Occupation: Lawyer
Education: Early Life: Presbyterian Minister, Graduated from King's College (Columbia University)
Birthplace: British, West Indies
Military Service: Lieutenant Colonial in American Revolution
Family: Born an illegitimate son of a common law marriage, Married with eight children
Accomplishments: State Legislature, Committee of Style, Continental Congress, Secretary of Treasury, co-author of The Federalist, Constitutional Convention
Quote: "A national debt, if it is not excessive, will be to us a national blessing."
Candidate #3
Age: 52
Occupation: Soldier, Landowner, Slave owner
Education: Basic education from private tutors
Birthplace: Wakefield Plantation, VA
Military Service: Lieutenant Colonel in French and Indian War, Commander and Chief of the Continental Army
Family: Married a widow with two children. No children of own.
Accomplishments: Virginia House of Burgess, Whig Party Leader, First and Second Continental Congress, Constitutional Convention.
Quote: "The time is now near at hand which must probably determine whether Americans are to be freemen or slaves; whether they are to have any property they can call their own..... The fate of the unborn millions will now depend, under God, on the courage and conduct of this enemy. Our cruel and unrelenting enemy leaves us only one choice of brave resistance, or the most abject submission. We have, therefore, to resolve to conquer or die."
Candidate #4
Age: 32
Occupation: Physician
Education: Classical education in Ireland, Newark Academy in Delaware
Birthplace: Ireland
Military Service: Military surgeon in War of Independence
Family: Married with three children
Accomplishments: Continental Congress, State Assembly, State Senate, President on Bible Society.
Quote: None Found
Candidate #5
Age: 82
Occupation: Inventor, Philosopher, Author
Education: Self - taught
Birthplace: Boston, MA
Military Service: None
Family: Common law wife with two children. Many other illegitimate children by other women out of wedlock
Accomplishments: Newspaper Editor, Clerk and Member of Colonial Legislature, Deputy Postmaster of Philadelphia, Continental Congress, Drafting team of Declaration of Independence, Commissioner to France, Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania, Constitutional Convention
Quote: "We must indeed all hang together, or, most assuredly, we shall hang separately"
Candidate #6
Age: 60
Occupation: Lawyer
Education: Yale
Birthplace: Albany, NY
Military Service: General in New Jersey Militia of the Revolution
Family: Married with thirteen children
Accomplishments: Continental Congress, Governor of New Jersey, Philadelphia Society for Promoting Agriculture, Constitutional Convention
Quote: None Found
Candidate #7
Age: 60
Occupation: Lawyer/ Merchant
Education: Common School
Birthplace: Newton, MA
Military Service: None
Family: Widowed with seven children, Second marriage with eight children
Accomplishments: Treasurer for Yale College, Justice of the Peace, County Judge, Connecticut Supreme Court, Drafting team for Declaration of Independence and Articles of the Confederation,Continental Congress, Constitutional Convention
Quote: None Found
Candidate #8
Age: 36
Occupation: Politican
Education: Common School
Birthplace: North Carolina
Military Service: Paymaster in state forces
Family: Married with six children
Accomplishments: State Legislature, Continental Congress, Constitutional Convention
Quote: None Found