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Re: Were signers of the Constitution in a hurry when they added Electoral College?
Jason Atkinson
Jun 24, 2020 2:04 PM
Dear Mr. Travis,
Thank you for posting your request on History Hub!
We searched the National Archives Catalog and located the Official Records of the Constitutional Convention of 1787 in the Records of the Continental and Confederation Congresses and the Constitutional Convention (Record Group 360). For more information about these records, please email the National Archives at Washington, DC - Textual Reference (RDT1) at Archives1reference@nara.gov.Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and pursuant to guidance received from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), NARA has adjusted its normal operations to balance the need of completing its mission-critical work while also adhering to the recommended social distancing for the safety of NARA staff. As a result of this re-prioritization of activities, you may experience a delay in receiving an initial acknowledgement as well as a substantive response to your reference request from RDT1. We apologize for this inconvenience and appreciate your understanding and patience.
Founders Online provides access to the papers of George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, and James Madison, who were all delegates to the Constitutional Convention.
The Library of Congress has custody of the collection Documents from the Continental Congress and the Constitutional Convention, 1774 to 1789.
You may also wish to review the Notes of Debates in the Federal Convention of 1787, which was James Madison’s personal record of the daily debates held by delegates. These are available online at several websites, to include the Avalon Law Project. Avalon also has Papers of Dr. James McHenry on the Federal Convention of 1787, Notes of William Paterson in the Federal Convention of 1787, and multiple other sources relating to the US Constitution and the Constitutional Convention. Additionally, the electoral college is addressed by The Federalist Papers No. 68 published after the Convention by Alexander Hamilton as part of his advocacy for the ratification of the Constitution.
Numerous books have been written on the US Constitution and the Constitutional Convention offering various interpretations of the proceedings and motivations of the framers. Some of these are available online or through various retailers. Your local library also may have books on the subject.We hope this information is helpful. Best of luck with your research!