James Wilson, Founding Father and Advocate for Democracy

Independence Hall

James Wilson was one of two signers of the United States Constitution who were faculty members at the College of Philadelphia (forerunner to the University of Pennsylvania). A native of Scotland, educated at the University of St. Andrews, Wilson was appointed a Latin tutor at the College in February 1766. His appointment was followed by the award of an honorary Master of Arts degree at that year's commencement. He later studied law in the office of John Dickinson, was admitted to the bar and established a practice in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.

Wilson was a member of the Second Continental Congress in 1775 and 1776 and signed the Declaration of Independence. Simultaneously, however, he fought the radical Pennsylvania constitution of 1776. Despite his advocacy of the democratic principle and the sovereignty of the individual, Wilson's career subsequent to 1776 carried him steadily to the right.

Elected to the Continental Congress in 1782, where he served all but one year until 1787, Wilson's chief contributions were his proposal to establish states in the Western lands and his successful advocacy of a general revenue plan for Congress. On both measures he was accused of conflict of interest: first, as an investor in Western land companies and second, as a beneficiary of the payment of interest on the loans of the Bank of North America.

Interior of Independence Hall

There was at least a modicum of truth in these charges, for there is ample evidence that Wilson's chief concern between 1778 and 1787 was the accumulation of great personal wealth. During this period he became a close associate of Robert Morris and adopted the Federalist position on the need for a strong central government.

Wilson's greatest achievement in public life was his part in the establishment of the United States Constitution. With the possible exception of James Madison, no member of the Constitutional Convention was better versed in the study of political economy, none grasped more firmly the central problem of dual sovereignty, and none was more optimistic and far-sighted in his vision of the future greatness of the United States.

Wilson regularly advocated the idea that sovereignty resided in the people, that the President and members of both houses of Congress should be popularly elected. He appears to have been the most influential member of the Committee of Detail, charged with preparing the first draft of the Constitution. Though not in agreement with all parts of the finished product, Wilson signed the Constitution and proved a powerful voice for its adoption.

Following the Constitutional Convention, Wilson enjoyed a surge of public triumphs. He led the Federalists in the Pennsylvania ratifying convention. In December 1787, after less than four weeks of debate, the delegates voted to ratify. Only the state of Delaware moved more quickly in taking favorable action. The Federalists' victory assured the passage of a new Pennsylvania state constitution, modeled precisely on the Federal Constitution. Wilson was its author. Wilson's national stature was confirmed in September 1789 when President Washington appointed him an Associate Justice of the first United States Supreme Court.

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