- Rufus King was a steadfast Federalist at the Constitutional Convention of 1787. He deeply believed that the newly established nation needed a strong and effective central government to overcome the weaknesses and challenges of the Articles of Confederation.
2. Bicameral Legislature:
- King supported the idea of a bicameral legislature, similar to the British Parliament. He believed that having two houses, the Senate and the House of Representatives, would provide a system of checks and balances, ensuring that no single faction could dominate the government.
3. Representation in the Senate:
- King advocated for equal representation of states in the Senate, regardless of their size or population. He argued that this would protect the interests of smaller states, ensuring that their voices would be heard and they would not be overshadowed by larger states.
4. Executive Power:
- Rufus King was in favor of a strong executive branch, but not one that would have absolute power. He supported the concept of a single executive, later referred to as the President, with limited powers to execute the laws and conduct foreign policy.
5. Electoral College:
- King played a significant role in the creation and design of the Electoral College, an indirect method of electing the President of the United States. This system was adopted to balance popular sovereignty and the interests of diverse regions within the country.
6. Slavery and Representation:
- King opposed the Three-Fifths Compromise, which counted slaves as three-fifths of a person when determining representation in the House of Representatives. He argued that this gave undue influence to slave states and failed to acknowledge the humanity of enslaved individuals.
7. Ratifying the Constitution:
- After the Constitutional Convention, Rufus King was instrumental in the ratification process in Massachusetts. He led the Federalist faction and actively debated and campaigned in support of adopting the new Constitution. His efforts helped convince the Massachusetts Convention to ratify the document in 1788.
Overall, Rufus King played a crucial role at the Constitutional Convention and in shaping the framework of the new United States government. His contributions to federalism, representation, executive authority, and the structure of the Electoral College had a profound impact on the foundations of the American republic.