Fourth President of the United States, James Madison (1751-1836) became known as the 'father' of the Constitution because of his influence in planning it and in helping to draw up the Bill of Rights. Alexander Hamilton (1757-1804) was secretary and aide-de-camp to George Washington. He became a Member of the Constitutional Convention in 1787. John Jay (1745-1829) wrote The Address to the People of Great Britain, stating the case of the early settlers, which won him great acclaim and he also helped to ensure the approval of the Declaration of Independence in New York.

Edited by R.B. Bernstein, Distinguished Adjunct Professor of Law, New York Law School, Lecturer in Political Science, Colin Powell School for Civic and Global Leadership, City College of New York and author of Thomas Jefferson and The Founding Fathers Reconsidered (both for Oxford University Press).