Creating the United States

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Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declaration of Independence and America’s minister to France, continued to call for a bill of rights in letters to James Madison. Jefferson’s open support for revisions to the Constitution was instrumental in Madison’s plans to propose these amendments to the new federal Congress soon after its first meeting of Congress, even though the amendments diverted attention from the formation of the new federal government.

(Transcription)

“Wherever the real power in a Government lies, there is the danger of oppression ...”


Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declaration of Independence and America’s minister to France, continued to call for a bill of rights in letters to James Madison. Jefferson’s open support for revisions to the Constitution was instrumental in Madison’s plans to propose these amendments to the new federal Congress soon after its first meeting of Congress, even though the amendments diverted attention from the formation of the new federal government.