Constitutional Convention Role Play Cards
My name is John Dickinson. I am 54 years old and
a delegate from Delaware. I am a well-known
lawyer and author. In 1776 I refused to sign the
Declaration of Independence but I did decide to
fight in a patriot militia. I wrote the basis for the
Articles of Confederation. At the 1787 convention,
I defended a strong central government and the rights of
small states. I became sick so I had to return home,
so I had another delegate sign the Constitution for
me.
My name is George Washington. I am 55 years old
and a delegate from Virginia. I presided over the
convention. I am a tall, slim man with large watchful
eyes. I said little during the convention, but I was
able to keep peace among all delegates. My strong,
quiet leadership helped ensure the Constitution’s
ratification. Later, as the first U.S. President, I
proved that the Constitution’s plan of government
was workable. I shaped the role of future presidents
in a government that shares power among three
branches.
© misskotter 2014
My name is George Mason. I am 62 years old and a
delegate from Virginia. I was one of the wealthiest men
in my state. In 1776, I wrote the Declaration of Rights in
Virginia that was a model for part of the Declaration of
Independence. I wanted a federal constitution and new
type of government, but I did not like the Constitution’s final
draft because it compromised on slavery and it did not have a
bill of rights. I refused to sign it, and joined Patrick Henry
and others in trying to prevent ratification.
My name is William Paterson. I am 42 years old and a
delegate from New Jersey. I fought for the rights of small
states. At the 1787 convention, I proposed a plan under
which all states would have equal representation in
Congress. It was called the New Jersey Plan, or the
Paterson Plan. In the Constitution’s final draft, my plan
was implemented with the creation of the Senate.
My name is Edmund Randolph. I am 33 years old and
a delegate from Virginia. I refused to sign the
Constitution, but later pushed for ratification. During the
American Revolution I fought as a patriot. At the
1787 convention, I introduced the Virginia Plan. This
plan favored the larger states by basing representation
in Congress on population or wealth. Later I became
Secretary of State under President Washington.
© misskotter 2014
My name is James Madison. I am 36 years old and a delegate
from Virginia. I am often called the “father of the
Constitution.” At the 1787 convention, I kept very detailed
records. My major proposals—a strong, central government, a
national executive (or president), and a two-house Congress—were
accepted. I co-wrote a series of papers called The Federalist,
pushing for the Constitution’s ratification. I would later
serve as the fourth U.S. President.
My name is Benjamin Franklin. I am 81 years old and a
delegate from Pennsylvania. I became a writer, inventor,
scientist, and statesman. I created the Albany Plan of
Union and later signed the Declaration of Independence.
As a minister to France, I won French support for the
U.S. in the American Revolution. At the 1787
convention, I was the oldest delegate there. My wisdom
helped keep the convention from breaking up.
My name is James Wilson. I am 44 years old and a
delegate from Pennsylvania. I am a successful lawyer
and legal scholar. In 1776 I signed the Declaration of
Independence; in 1787, I signed the Constitution. I am
sometimes called “the unsung hero of the convention”
because I had great influence in shaping the
Constitution’s final form. I called for a strong single
executive when many others wanted a committee of
several executives.
© misskotter 2014
My name is Gouverneur Morris. I am 35 years old and
a delegate from Pennsylvania. My nickname was
“The Tall Boy.” I lost my leg in a riding accident, but
it never slowed me down. At the 1787 convention, I
spoke more than anyone else. I supported a strong
central government and strong executive, but had little
faith in the common man. My flair with words was so
respected that I wrote most of the Constitution’s final
draft.
My name is Elbridge Gerry. I am 43 years old and a
delegate from Massachusetts. I signed the Declaration of
Independence and the Articles of Confederation. Shay’s
Rebellion really worried me, so I attended the 1787
convention. However, I did not sign the Constitution,
partly because it had no bill of rights. I later served as
governor of Massachusetts and as Vice President to
James Madison.
My name is Roger Sherman. I am 66 years old and a
delegate from Connecticut. I solved the conflict
between large and small states, which threatened to
block agreement on the Constitution. Small states
wanted equal representation in Congress and large
states wanted representation to be based on population.
So I created a solution known as The Great
Compromise: a Congress in which states have equal
votes in one house, population-based votes in the other.
© misskotter 2014
My name is Alexander Hamilton. I am 30 years old
and a delegate from New York. I worked hard to bring
about the 1787 convention. During the Revolution, I
was George Washington’s most trusted aide. I
believed in a strong, central government, and co-wrote
essays for The Federalist urging the Constitution to be
ratified. I later served as Secretary of the Treasury
under President Washington.
© misskotter 2014