Oliver+Ellsworth

Michael Zanni Oliver Ellsworth



The Constitution was a document to help stablize a government that needed help. At the constitutional convention in Philidelphia, PA. The people at the convention were delegates from each of the 13 states they represented. They wanted to create a set of laws, the constitution, to help run the United States. Oliver Ellsworth worked on the committee of five, which help create the first draft of the constitution.
 * Introduction[[image:http://a4.powerset.com/assets/orig/225px/OliverEllsworth.jpg width="225" align="right" caption="Oliver Ellsworth ( Born on April 29, 1745 and died on November 26, 1807)" link="http://constitution-a.wikispaces.com/reference/semhtml/File:OliverEllsworth.jpg"]]**

Oliver Ellsworth was born in Windsor, Connecticut on April 29, 1745, to Captain David and Jemima Leavitt Ellsworth. He died on November 26, 1807. He had many occupations during his life. He was a lawyer, a politician, a senator for Connecticut, and the 3rd Chief Justice for the United States. At the same time he was a senator, he was the Chief justice for four days as well. He studied at Yale, the college of New Jersey, and later on at Princeton. He was married to Abigail Wolcott in 1772 and they had nine children. He grew up in a rich family based on the fact the his Father was a Captain, and he would probably be rich if he got a very good secondary education.
 * //Background Information for the Life of Oliver Ellsworth -//**

Oliver's played a huge role in the convention. He was on of the eight judges that had experience in the field and helped pass the name "The United States of America". He wanted to use the name because it was used in the phamphlet the "American Crisis" and "The Declaration of Independence". Oliver also helped with the passing and aprroval of the Connecticut Compromise and helped with the passing of the 3/5 Compromise. Even though he was for the 3/5 compromise, he opposed the abolition of foreign slave trade. He made sure that the southern states didn't breakdown and cause complete chaos at the convention. With the help of James Wilson, John Rutledge, Edmund Randolph, and Nathaniel Gorham, Oliver served on the Committee of Five. They prepared the first draft of the constitution based on what was already passed by the delegates. Even though he played a huge role in the constitution he left in August and never signed the final document.
 * //Role in the constitutional Convention -//**


 * //How did the Constitution Guard against Tyranny?//**


 * Oliver view on Federalism:**

Oliver was for the federalist party. He wanted his government to have a strong central government but also have strong state governments as well. He was a judge and his views were for a branch of government that would be for him and his party.


 * Oliver's view on Separation of Powers:**

Separation of Powers is separation of different powers within the government. Oliver was for the constitution and felt that if the constitution was enforced, it would help him in the judiciary department. He was one of the five judges that attended the constitutional convention. Since there was only a few judges it caused them to think of what was best for them.


 * Oliver's view on Checks and Balances:**

Checks and Balances is when the branches of powers are given power and are able to prevent each other from getting to powerful. Since Oliver was for the federalist party, he must be for checks and blances. He probably had to make sure that the judiciary branch was given a certain amount of power and that they don't get controlled by another branch of government.


 * Oliver's view on Big States vs. Small States:**

Big states vs. Small states is a way of preventing tyranny within the government. It allows the big states representatives to have a high amount of representatives, but makes each state have two senators for the state.. This allows the small states feel like they aren't being overpowered. Oliver wasn't for this idea. He wanted every state to have equal number of representatives and senators.



He joined the Constitutional Convention on May 28th with Roger Sherman and William Samuel Johnson. He attended 70% of the total meetings!
 * //Constitutional Convention Attendance Record://**

Oliver's attendance is impressive. He was there for a lot of the meetings and rarely missed any. He used his time in the meetings to help with, "The Committee of Five," "The connecticut Compromise," and "The 3/5 Compromise." Since he was a delegate representing Connecticut he had to make sure that his states needs were met. During a lot of the meetings about the "3/5 compromise" he had to calm down a lot of the southern states because they were about to cause absolute chaos. He also played a huge role in the "Committe of Five." They were in charge of the first draft of the constitution. Oliver needed to attend a lot of the meetings so that he could make sure that the changes made at the meetings were put in the first draft. His role there was also important because he wanted to make sure that the his view on the abolition of slavery was put into view for Connwecticut. Even though he was against slavery he felt that if they abolished it completely it would cause chaos in the south. He spoke out in the convention that slaves should be control by the states, which was put in the original constitution. On August 6-23, Oliver spoke 53 times at the convention and wanted to make sure that his role was made clear. He had to leave the convention for business reasons. Oliver played a big role in the constitutional convention, even thought he didn't sign it at the end.

Oliver Ellsworth's Attendance

__//**Primary Sources:**//__
 * || ** Present ** || ** Absent ** || ** Do Not Know ** || ** Probably Present ** || ** Probably Absent ** ||
 * ** Act 1 ** || 7 || 2 || N/A || 11 || N/A ||
 * ** Act 2 ** || 21 || 2 || N/A || 9 || N/A ||
 * ** Act 3 ** || 15 || 7 || N/A || 1 || N/A ||
 * ** Act 4 ** || N/A || 14 || N/A || N/A || N/A ||
 * ** Totals ** || 43 || 25 || N/A || 21 || N/A ||
 * ** % ** || 47% || 27% || 0% || 23% || 0% ||

Oliver would agree with article 1, section 3, clause 1, which is the terms of senators. Since Oliver was a senator for Connecticut he would have to either agree with what the constitution. This clause makes his term as senator last for six years. I don't think he really enjoyed doing it because he was starting to get into his mid- fifties.
 * Constitution:[[image:http://www.nps.gov/inde/historyculture/images/histpic3_3.jpg width="314" height="204" align="right" caption="The Philadelphia State House, Where the Constitutional Convention was being held."]]**

I think that Oliver Ellsworth would like the 7th amendment because it prevents any case from being reexamined. Since Oliver was a lawyer he especially like this because it would make his job very easy. He doesn't have to go back to any case that he has already had. It also allows him to make sure that the jury isn't for a particular person in a case.
 * Bill of Rights:**

Works Cited Agree, clicking. "Oliver ellsworth - Bing Images." //Bing//. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Apr. 2010. . Agree, clicking. "the constitutional convention - Bing Images." //Bing//. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Apr. 2010. . Agree, clicking. "Connecticut state flag - Bing Images." //Bing//. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Apr. 2010. . Agree, clicking. "the constitution - Bing Images." //Bing//. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Apr. 2010. . "America's Founding Fathers - Delegates to the Constitutional Convention." //National Archives and Records Administration//. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Apr. 2010. . Georgia, cooperating with. "Oliver Ellsworth - Bing Reference." //Bing//. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Apr. 2010. . "N/A." //N/A//. N.p., n.d. Web. 4 May 2010. . "Oliver Ellsworth Homestead." //Connecticut DAR//. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Apr. 2010. . "The Constitutional Convention as a Four Act Drama." //TeachingAmericanHistory.org -- Free Seminars and Summer Institutes for Social Studies Teachers//. N.p., n.d. Web. 4 May 2010. .

// MLA formatting by BibMe.org. //